2016 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 12 - Financial Responsibility
Part 1 - Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law of 1977
§ 55-12-114. Suspension of all registrations upon suspension or revocation of license -- Exception upon filing proof of financial responsibility -- Release -- Compliance by Tennessee resident moving to or returning from another state.

(a) Whenever the commissioner of safety, under any law of this state, suspends or revokes the license of any person by reason of a conviction, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke all registrations in the name of that person and those registrations shall be suspended or revoked immediately; provided, that the registrations in the name of that person shall not be suspended, unless otherwise required by law, if that person has previously given or shall immediately give and shall maintain for three (3) years, proof of financial responsibility.

(b) Prior to the issuance of a restricted license as authorized by §§ 55-10-409, 55-50-502 and 55-50-505, the licensee shall give and maintain for the duration of the license's suspension or revocation proof of financial responsibility as required by § 55-12-126.

(c) When the person's license or registrations or both license and registrations are restored after suspension or revocation, the person shall give and shall maintain for three (3) years proof of financial responsibility as required by § 55-12-126, pay a one hundred-dollar restoration fee and pass the driver license examination as a condition precedent to the restoration of the license. Any person convicted of driving on a revoked license pursuant to § 55-50-504, when the original suspension or revocation was made for a violation of an offense not requiring mandatory revocation, shall pay a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee. Upon restoration of a person's license, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111, § 55-4-112 or § 55-4-113, that registration shall be reinstated immediately.

(d) At any time after five (5) years from the date of revocation, the department of safety may, in its own discretion, or upon request of the person required to furnish proof of financial responsibility, release the requirement of that proof, if the records of the department of safety establish that the person, during the preceding five-year period, has not been convicted of any offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of a license or registration by the department of safety or by the department of revenue, and has not suffered suspension, revocation, prohibition, or cancellation of license as ordered by the department of safety or by a court. If the department of safety, pursuant to this subsection (d), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of financial responsibility, and if that person's motor vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked due to failure to furnish that proof, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration and, upon payment of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees to the commissioner of revenue provided by § 55-4-111, § 55-4-112 or § 55-4-113, the registration shall be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, this subsection (d) shall not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based on a motor vehicle accident.

(e) A Tennessee resident who moves to another state during the period of any cancellation, suspension, or revocation in this state shall be deemed to be in compliance with this section when certification is received by the department that financial responsibility laws have been met in the new state, and upon meeting all other requirements and conditions for reinstatement of driving privileges in this state. If the person returns to this state as a legal Tennessee resident and re-applies for a Tennessee driver license, the requirements for regaining driving privileges shall be the same as any other Tennessee resident.

(f) When any driver licensed in another state applies for a Tennessee driver license, and a cancellation, suspension, or revocation action from the former state is in effect, the department, upon compliance with provisions of this title, may issue a Tennessee driver license to the driver as if the original action had been taken in this state.