(a) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen capable of displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, if the receiver, monitor or screen is intended to display images visible to the driver in a normal position when the vehicle is in motion.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-9-105

  • Driver: means :
    (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Livestock: means all equine as well as animals that are being raised primarily for use as food or fiber for human utilization or consumption including, but not limited to, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, and poultry. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Operator: means :
    (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(b) A person shall not install in a motor vehicle a television receiver, a video monitor, or a television or video screen capable of displaying a television broadcast or video signal that produces entertainment or business applications, if the receiver, monitor or screen is intended to display images visible to the driver in a normal position when the vehicle is in motion.
(c) The prohibitions contained in this section shall not apply to:

(1) The following equipment when installed in a motor vehicle:

(A) A vehicle information display;
(B) A navigation or global positioning display;
(C) A visual display used to enhance or supplement the driver’s view forward, behind, or to the sides of a motor vehicle; or
(D) A television receiver, video monitor, television or video screen or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal, if the equipment is designed to prevent the driver from viewing the entertainment or business application when the motor vehicle is being driven;
(2) Television receivers or monitors used in government-owned vehicles by law enforcement officers in the course of their official duties;
(3) A wireless telephone or communication device when used for placing or receiving a telephone call or to access a navigation or global positioning display;
(4) Electronic monitors or displays used to monitor livestock being transported;
(5)

(A) Computer or other electronic displays or monitors used in utility vehicles by employees of the utility in the course of their official duties; provided, however, that use shall be permitted only while the vehicle is stopped, standing or parked;
(B) As used in subdivision (c)(5)(A), “utility” means any person, municipality, county, metropolitan government, cooperative, board, commission, district, or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone service or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area; and
(C) As used in subdivision (c)(5)(B), “cooperative” means any cooperative providing utility services, including, but not limited to, electric or telephone services, or both; or
(6)

(A) When a motor vehicle’s autonomous technology is engaged, an operator may use an integrated electronic display for communication, information, and other uses enabled by the display; provided, that the display is integrated with the vehicle such that it operates and functions in coordination with such autonomous technology and disables automatically any moving images visible to the motor vehicle operator when the autonomous technology is disengaged;
(B) As used in subdivision (c)(6)(A), “autonomous technology” means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the motor vehicle without the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator.
(d) This section does not apply to local, state or federal law enforcement officers who are engaged in the performance of their official duties.
(e) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
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