2024 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105)
Chapter 8 - OPERATION OF VEHICLES - RULES OF THE ROAD (§§ 55-8-101 — 55-8-307)
Part 1 - OPERATION OF VEHICLES - RULES OF THE ROAD (§§ 55-8-101 — 55-8-199)
Section 55-8-188 - High occupancy vehicles - Lanes

• (a) As used in this section:
  • (1) "Emergency vehicle" means a vehicle of a governmental department or public service corporation when responding to an emergency, a vehicle of a police or fire department, or an ambulance;
  • (2) "High occupancy vehicle" means a public transportation vehicle; privately owned bus; motorcycle; private passenger motor vehicle, including vans and pick-up trucks, carrying no fewer than two (2) passengers; or as otherwise determined by the commissioner of transportation; and
  • (3) "HOV lane" means a lane or set of lanes on a highway facility of any class, so designated by signing, pavement delineation or markings, or other means of positive guidance, that is reserved for the exclusive use of high occupancy vehicles during specified hours of specified days of the week, in order to provide preferential service over traditional, mixed vehicles on that remaining part of the same highway facility.

• (b) Drivers shall obey the directions of every official traffic control device that is erected or placed to restrict usage of a lane designated for high occupancy vehicles.

• (c) Operation of a vehicle other than a high occupancy vehicle in an HOV lane is an offense. Drivers of emergency vehicles are exempt from this subsection (c).

• (d) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor, subject only to imposition of a fine, not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), and court costs, not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), including, but not limited to, any statutory fees of officers. State or local litigation taxes are not applicable to a case prosecuted under this section.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 159, s 34, eff. 4/17/2023.

Acts 1993, ch. 35, § 1; 1999, ch. 321, § 1; 2000, ch. 770, § 2; 2008 , ch. 1121, §§ 1, 2.