(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class D felony2 to 12 yearsup to $5,000
class E felony1 to 6 yearsup to $3,000
class B misdemeanorup to 6 monthsup to $500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-14-147

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Harm: means anything reasonably regarded as loss, disadvantage or injury, including harm to another person in whose welfare the person affected is interested. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Highway: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Knowing: means that a person acts knowingly with respect to the conduct or to circumstances surrounding the conduct when the person is aware of the nature of the conduct or that the circumstances exist. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Owner: means a person, other than the defendant, who has possession of or any interest other than a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest in property, even though that possession or interest is unlawful and without whose consent the defendant has no authority to exert control over the property. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Person: includes the singular and the plural and means and includes any individual, firm, partnership, copartnership, association, corporation, governmental subdivision or agency, or other organization or other legal entity, or any agent or servant thereof. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • Property: means anything of value, including, but not limited to, money, real estate, tangible or intangible personal property, including anything severed from land, library material, contract rights, choses-in-action, interests in or claims to wealth, credit, admission or transportation tickets, captured or domestic animals, food and drink, electric or other power. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) “Lease” means the grant of use and possession of a motor vehicle for consideration, whether or not the grant includes an option to buy the vehicle;
(2) “Motor vehicle” means a device in, on, or by which a person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except a device used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks;
(3) “Security interest” means an interest in personal property or fixtures that secures payment or performance of an obligation;
(4) “Third party” means a person other than the actor or the owner of the vehicle; and
(5) “Transfer” means to transfer possession, whether or not another right is also transferred, by means of a sale, lease, sublease, lease assignment or other property transfer.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person acquires, accepts possession of, or exercises control over the motor vehicle of another under a written or oral agreement to arrange for the transfer of the vehicle to a third party and:

(1) Knowing the vehicle is subject to a security interest, lease or lien, the person transfers the vehicle to a third party without first obtaining written authorization from the vehicle’s secured creditor, lessor or lienholder;
(2) Intending to defraud or harm the vehicle’s owner, the person transfers the vehicle to a third party;
(3) Intending to defraud or harm the vehicle’s owner, the person disposes of the vehicle in a manner other than by transfer to a third party; or
(4) The person does not disclose the location of the vehicle on the request of the vehicle’s owner, secured creditor, lessor or lienholder.
(c) For the purposes of subdivision (b)(2), the actor is presumed to have intended to defraud or harm the motor vehicle’s owner if the actor does not take reasonable steps to determine whether or not the third party is financially able to pay for the vehicle.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under subdivision (b)(1) that the entire indebtedness secured by or owned under the security interest, lease or lien is paid or satisfied in full not later than the thirtieth day after the date that the transfer was made.
(e) It is not a defense to prosecution under subdivision (b)(1) that the motor vehicle’s owner has violated a contract creating a security interest, lease or lien in the motor vehicle.
(f) A violation of subdivision (b)(1), (2) or (3) is:

(1) A Class E felony if the value of the motor vehicle is less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000); or
(2) A Class D felony if the value of the motor vehicle is twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) or more.
(g) A violation of subdivision (b)(4) is a Class B misdemeanor.
(h) In addition to any criminal penalties imposed by this section, a person who is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have violated any part of this section shall be subject to civil liability to a vehicle owner, secured creditor, lessor or lienholder who prevails in an action brought under this section for the following:

(1) Three (3) times the actual value of the motor vehicle; and
(2) Reasonable costs and attorney’s fees incurred by the person instituting the action.
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