§ 55-12-101 Short title
§ 55-12-102 Part definitions
§ 55-12-103 Administration – Enforcement – Rules and regulations – Appeals – Judicial review
§ 55-12-104 Report of accident required – Suspension of registration or operating privileges for failure to report – Restoration – Access to information
§ 55-12-105 Security deposit following accident – Acceptable proof of financial security – Revocation of registration or operating privileges for failure to deposit security – Notice – Appeal
§ 55-12-106 Exceptions to requirement of security and revocation – Additional acceptable proof of financial security
§ 55-12-107 Minimum requirements of insurance policy or bond for security – Acceptable proof of existence of insurance or bond
§ 55-12-108 Duration of suspension or revocation for failure to report accident or deposit security – Restoration – Determination of fault inadmissible in court of law
§ 55-12-109 Report of suspension or revocation of nonresident’s operating privileges – Revocation or suspension of resident’s registration and operating privileges for accidents in other states – Restoration
§ 55-12-110 Proof of damages sustained – Determination of amount of financial security required
§ 55-12-111 Self-insurers
§ 55-12-112 Custody of security – Payment of judgments – Return of deposit
§ 55-12-113 “Conviction” defined
§ 55-12-114 Suspension of all registrations upon suspension or revocation of license – Restoration fee – Exception upon filing proof of financial responsibility – Release – Compliance by Tennessee resident moving to or returning from another state
§ 55-12-115 Suspension of driver license for failure to comply with financial responsibility law
§ 55-12-116 Duration of suspension or revocation under Section 55-12-114 – Restoration
§ 55-12-117 Duration of nonresident’s suspension or revocation for failure to file proof of financial responsibility following conviction – Restoration
§ 55-12-118 Proof of financial responsibility required on final judgment – Suspension or revocation for failure to file proof – Restoration
§ 55-12-119 Proof of financial responsibility with respect to a motor vehicle or a person not the owner of the vehicle
§ 55-12-120 Certificate of insurance as proof of financial responsibility
§ 55-12-121 Certificate of insurance by nonresident as proof of financial responsibility – Agreement to accept service of process on commissioner
§ 55-12-122 Motor vehicle liability policy – Contents
§ 55-12-123 Notice of cancellation or termination of certified policy
§ 55-12-124 Other auto liability policies not affected
§ 55-12-125 Cancellation of bond or policy – Return of deposit
§ 55-12-126 Minimum duration of proof requirement – Suspension of license or registration for premature cancellation or termination of proof – Hearing – Restoration of license or registration
§ 55-12-127 Surrender of license or registration upon revocation, suspension or cancellation – Enforcement officers – Violations – Penalties
§ 55-12-128 Matters not to be evidence in civil suits
§ 55-12-129 Fees for reinstatement of license and registration – Installment payment plans
§ 55-12-130 Approval of reregistration after revocation – Transfer of registration to avoid law prohibited – Violations – Penalties
§ 55-12-131 Driving while license cancelled, suspended, or revoked – Penalties
§ 55-12-132 Employer filing proof of financial responsibility for employee – Limited license – Fee – Examination
§ 55-12-133 Substitution of proof
§ 55-12-134 Additional proof required – Suspension or revocation of license or registration pending filing of additional proof
§ 55-12-135 False statements – Perjury – Violations of part – Penalties – Suspension of license
§ 55-12-136 The Tennessee automobile insurance plan
§ 55-12-137 Duty of insurance company to file written proof of insurance when required – Civil penalty for violation
§ 55-12-138 Certification of understanding of and compliance with financial responsibility law
§ 55-12-139 Compliance with financial responsibility law required – Evidence of compliance – Issuance of citations by police service technicians
§ 55-12-140 Renewal of vehicle registration
§ 55-12-141 Automobile insurance coverage for driver while logged on to transportation network company’s digital network or while engaged in prearranged ride
§ 55-12-142 Notification to delivery driver that insurance may not cover commercial uses
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code > Title 55 > Chapter 12 > Part 1 - Financial Responsibility Lawshort Title

  • ADS: means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • ADS-operated vehicle: means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Autocycle: means an autocycle as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Bond: means irrevocable bond executed by a corporate surety company licensed to do business as a corporate surety company in this state, with penalties of like amounts as those pertaining to an insurance policy or the amount of damages suffered, whichever is less, the bond to guarantee the payment of any final judgment which might thereafter be rendered against the bonded party resulting from the accident up to and including the total amount of the bond, except the bond may specify a limited payment to those persons who have at the time of its execution filed claims with the commissioner, and shall contain a clause therein that it shall remain in force for one (1) year from the date of the accident or until final determination of any court action brought as a result of the accident, whichever may be the longer period of time. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Chauffeur: means every person who is employed by another for the principal purpose of driving a motor vehicle and every person who drives a school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of safety, unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • 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.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means the department of revenue. See Tennessee Code 55-1-111
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • 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
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Judgment: means any judgment that shall have become final by expiration without appeal of the time within which an appeal might have been perfected, or by final affirmation on appeal, rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction of any state or of the United States, upon a cause of action arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle, for damages, including damages for care and loss of services, because of bodily injury to or death of any person, or for damages because of injury to or destruction of property, including the loss of use thereof. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • 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.
  • 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
  • License: means any license, temporary instruction permit, or temporary license issued under the laws of this state, or any other state, pertaining to the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles within this state. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Month: means a calendar month. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Mortgagor: The person who pledges property to a creditor as collateral for a loan and who receives the money.
  • Motor vehicle: means every self-propelled vehicle that is designed for use upon the highway, including trailers and semitrailers designed for use with motor vehicles, and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead wires but not operated upon rails, except traction engines, road rollers and farm tractors. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Motor vehicle liability policy: means an "owner's policy" or "operator's policy" of liability insurance, certified as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Nonresident: means every person who is not a resident of this state. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Operator: means :
    (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle whether or not licensed as an operator or chauffeur under the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Owner: means a person who holds the legal title of a motor vehicle, or in the event a motor vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee, lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this part. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Platoon: means a group of individual motor vehicles that are traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Precedent: A court decision in an earlier case with facts and law similar to a dispute currently before a court. Precedent will ordinarily govern the decision of a later similar case, unless a party can show that it was wrongly decided or that it differed in some significant way.
  • proof of financial security: means :
    (A)
    (i) If proof is required after December 31, 1989, but prior to January 1, 2009, such proof means:
    (a) A written proof of liability insurance coverage provided by a single limit policy with a limit of not less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) applicable to one (1) accident. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in a perceivable form. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Registration: means a registration certificate or certificates and registration plates issued under the laws of this state pertaining to the registration of motor vehicles. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Road: includes public bridges and may be held equivalent to the words "county way" "county road" or "state road". See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: means any state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any province of the Dominion of Canada. See Tennessee Code 55-12-102
  • Traffic: means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • 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
  • Venue: The geographical location in which a case is tried.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105