2016 Tennessee Code
Title 47 - Commercial Instruments and Transactions
Chapter 18 - Consumer Protection
Part 15 - Consumer Telemarketing Protection
§ 47-18-1511. Offense of using ADAD equipment to intentionally conceal or misrepresent telephone number of the equipment -- Exceptions.

(a) It is an offense for any person to utilize any ADAD equipment to intentionally:

(1) Dial telephone numbers with area codes within the state; and

(2) Conceal or misrepresent the telephone number utilized by the ADAD equipment on the call recipient's telephone or other equipment that is technically capable of displaying the number by:

(A) Displaying a telephone number other than the telephone number utilized by the ADAD equipment;

(B) Not displaying the telephone number utilized by the ADAD equipment; or

(C) Displaying an "unknown number" message or similar message instead of the telephone number utilized by the ADAD equipment.

(b) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor punishable only by a fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each violation. For purposes of criminal liability, a court shall deem each call made in violation of this section as a separate offense.

(c) It shall not be a violation of this section to display a phone number, different from the phone number being utilized by the ADAD equipment, on behalf of a person if:

(1) The phone number displayed on behalf of the person has a Tennessee area code or is a toll-free number;

(2) The phone number displayed on behalf of the person is answered during regular business hours by a designated representative of such person; and

(3) The person's name is displayed along with the phone number described in subdivisions (c)(1) and (2).

(d) The offenses described in this section shall not apply to a telecommunications, broadband, or voice-over-Internet services provider acting solely as an intermediary for a transmission of telephone service between a caller and a recipient.