(a)

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 57-3-401

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • gallons: means a wine gallon or wine gallons, of one hundred and twenty-eight ounces (128 oz. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • License: means the license issued pursuant to this chapter. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • 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
  • Wine: means the product of the normal alcoholic fermentation of the juice of dried or fresh, sound, ripe grapes, fruit, or other agricultural products, with the usual cellar treatment and necessary additions to correct defects due to climatic, saccharine, and seasonal conditions, including champagne, sparkling, and fortified wine of an alcoholic content not to exceed twenty-one percent (21%) by volume. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
  • Winery: means and includes any place or premises wherein wines are manufactured from any fruit or brandies distilled as the by-product of wine or other fruit or cordials compounded, and also includes a winery for the manufacture of wine. See Tennessee Code 57-3-101
(1) It is an offense for any person, firm or corporation, other than a common carrier or entity licensed under this title, to transport, either in person or through an agent, employee or independent contractor, untaxed alcoholic beverages or wine as defined in § 57-3-101 within, into, through or from this state in quantities in excess of five gallons (5 gals.). Except as provided in § 57-3-103(b) authorizing a person to store alcoholic beverages intended for a person’s personal or social use, it is an offense for any person, firm, corporation or association to possess untaxed alcoholic beverages or wine in quantities in excess of five gallons (5 gals.). A violation of this subdivision (a)(1) is a Class E felony.
(2) Any person, firm, corporation or association transporting any alcoholic beverages or wine within or into this state shall bear the burden of proof that the taxes imposed by this title on alcoholic beverages or wine have been paid, or, in the case of wine that is manufactured at a winemaking on premises facility licensed pursuant to § 57-3-218, that no such taxes are due. A receipt or other documentation demonstrating legal purchase or transport from an entity licensed under § 57-3-203, § 57-3-204, § 57-3-207 or § 57-3-218 shall be adequate proof that such taxes have been paid or that no such taxes are due.
(b)

(1) It is an offense for any person, firm, corporation or association to import, ship, deliver or cause to be imported, shipped or delivered into this state any alcoholic beverages upon which the tax imposed by this title has not been paid or where such transportation is not authorized under this title to an entity possessing a license issued under this title. A violation of this subdivision (b)(1) is a Class E felony.
(2) Except as provided in § 57-3-207 for purchases made by an individual at a winery licensed pursuant to § 57-3-207, and notwithstanding the prohibition in subdivision (b)(1), it shall be lawful for any individual to transport not more than five gallons (5 gals.) of alcoholic beverages or wine into or within this state for the personal or household use of that individual.