(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 A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
criminal case

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 39-17-108

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
(1) “Barricade” means a barrier for obstructing the passage of motor vehicle traffic;
(2) “Detour sign” means any sign placed across or on a public road of the state, by the state, the county or municipal authorities or by their contractors, indicating that the road is closed or partially closed, which sign also indicates the direction of an alternate route to be followed to give access to certain points;
(3) “Fence” means a barrier to prevent the intrusion of motor vehicle traffic;
(4) “Officially closed” means a highway or road that has been officially closed by a governmental unit, the department of transportation, a city or a county; and
(5) “Warning sign” means a sign indicating construction work in the area.
(b) A person commits an offense who intentionally:

(1) Destroys, knocks down, removes, defaces, or alters any lighting flasher letters or figures on a detour or warning sign set upon a highway or road of this state;
(2) Knocks down, removes, rearranges, destroys, defaces or alters any letters or figures on a barricade or fence erected on any highway or road of this state;
(3) Drives around or through any barricade or fence on any officially closed highway or road of this state;
(4) Drives around a detour sign or barricade or fence; or
(5) Ignores or disregards a warning sign before the road has been officially opened to public traffic by the department, or in appropriate cases by the county or municipal officer responsible for constructing or maintaining such roads.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(d) This section shall have no application to:

(1) Law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties;
(2) Employees of the Tennessee department of transportation;
(3) Contractors performing work on the highways;
(4) Federal authorities when engaged in inspection of surveys, repairs, maintenance, or construction on or alongside the highways or within the right-of-way;
(5) Individuals domiciled or making their livelihood within the affected areas; or
(6) Any person or group of persons that shall be authorized by the commissioner, or appropriate county or municipal officer.
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