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Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-4-203
Current as of January 02, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) All registration plates issued under this part shall be issued in one (1) of the following categories:
(1) Antique motor vehicle;
(2) Cultural;
(3) Dealer;
(4) Disabled;
(5) Emergency;
(6) Firefighter;
(7) General assembly;
(8) Government service;
(9) Judiciary;
(10) Legislator Emeritus;
(11) Memorial;
(12) National Guard;
(13) New specialty earmarked;
(14) OEM headquarters company;
(15) Off-highway vehicles:
(A) Class I off-highway vehicles; and
(B) Class II off-highway vehicles;
(16) Physician;
(17) Sheriff;
(18) Specialty earmarked;
(19) United States house of representatives;
(20) United States judge; and
(21) United States senate.
(b)(1) Registration plates currently provided under the “dealer,” “government service,” “disabled,” and “national guard” categories shall be issued in design configurations and colors which distinguish the plates from those of other categories, and in a manner which would avoid confusion with any other registration plates.
(2) Registration plates issued in any other category shall be issued in a design configuration distinctive to that category and determined by the commissioner, and shall bear at the top of the plate the word “Tennessee” or “Tenn” and at the bottom the name of the category. In addition, the plates in each category may bear identifying letter prefixes to distinguish the group within the category, and shall bear identifying number suffixes to identify the individual registrant.
(c) The groups within each category having multiple plates shall be as follows:
(1) Emergency:
(A) Amateur radio;
(B) Auxiliary police;
(C) Civil air patrol;
(D) Civil defense;
(E) Rescue squad;
(F) Emergency services squad, including, but not limited to, emergency medical technicians and paramedics;
(G) Police officer;
(H) Trauma physicians;
(I) Trauma nurses;
(J) On-call surgical personnel;
(K) Constables;
(L) Tennessee state guard;
(M) United States coast guard auxiliary; and
(N) Emergency communication dispatchers;
(2) Judiciary:
(A) Supreme court;
(B) Court of appeals;
(C) Court of criminal appeals;
(D) Chancery court;
(E) Circuit court;
(F) Probate court;
(G) Juvenile court;
(H) General sessions court;
(I) Retired judges of courts, not-of-record;
(J) Municipal court judges; and
(K) Magistrates;
(3) National Guard:
(A) Enlisted;
(B) Honorably discharged members;
(C) Officers; and
(D) Retirees;
(4) Memorial:
(A) Air Force Cross recipient;
(B) Air Medal (Valor) recipients;
(C) Bronze Star (Valor) recipients;
(D) Disabled veteran;
(E) Distinguished Flying Cross recipients;
(F) Distinguished Service Cross recipient;
(G) Former prisoner of war;
(H) Gold star family;
(I) Holder of the Purple Heart;
(J) Medal of honor recipient;
(K) Navy Cross recipient; and
(L) Silver Star recipients;
(5) Cultural:
(A) Antique Auto (unrestricted use) [Obsolete];
(B) Arts, as provided for in § 55-4-217 and § 55-4-240;
(C) Collegiate, as defined in § 55-4-201:
(i) Bryan College;
(ii) Cumberland University [Obsolete];
(iii) Penn State University;
(iv) University of Arkansas;
(v) University of Florida;
(vi) University of Mississippi;
(vii) All collegiate plates issued as cultural motor vehicle registration plates prior to July 1, 1998; and
(viii) All collegiate plates administratively issued by the department on or after July 1, 1998, pursuant to § 55-4-210;
(D) Delta Kappa Gamma Society International;
(E) Deleted by 2023 Pub.Acts, c. 52, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.
(F) Metropolitan council;
(G) Military:
(i) 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne);
(ii) Air Medal (Meritorious) recipients;
(iii) Army ranger;
(iv) Blue star family;
(v) Bronze Star (Meritorious) recipients;
(vi) Coast Guard Medal;
(vii) Coast Guard Commendation Medal;
(viii) Combat Action Badge;
(ix) Combat Infantryman Badge;
(x) Combat Medical Badge;
(xi) Combat veterans;
(xii) Disabled Veteran (service-connected);
(xiii) “Enemy Evadees” as certified by the department of veterans services;
(xiv) Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces;
(xv) Legion of Merit recipients;
(xvi) Marine Corps League;
(xvii) Paratrooper;
(xviii) Pearl Harbor survivors;
(xix) Presidential Service Badge;
(xx) Rakkasans;
(xxi) Submarine veteran;
(xxii) Tennessee woman veteran, pursuant to § 55-4-267;
(xxiii) United States military, active forces, pursuant to § 55-4-252;
(xxiv) United States military, honorably discharged members, pursuant to § 55-4-252;
(xxv) United States military, retired forces, pursuant to § 55-4-252;
(xxvi) United States reserve forces, pursuant to § 55-4-254;
(xxvii) United States reserve forces, honorably discharged members, pursuant to § 55-4-252;
(xxviii) United States reserve forces, retired, pursuant to § 55-4-252; and
(xxix) Women Veterans of Color;
(H) Personalized, pursuant to §§ 55-4-210 and 55-4-214;
(I) Police Benevolent Association; and
(J) Retired female firefighter;
(K) Retired firefighter.
(6) Specialty earmarked:
(A) Agriculture;
(B) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority;
(C) Alpha Phi Alpha;
(D) CHILDREN FIRST!;
(E) Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.;
(F) Ducks Unlimited;
(G) Environmental;
(H) Friends of Great Smoky Mountains;
(I) Helping school volunteer;
(J) Kappa Alpha Psi;
(K) Nongame and endangered wildlife species or “Watchable Wildlife”;
(L) Omega Psi Phi;
(M) Phi Beta Sigma;
(N) Supporters of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital; and
(O) Zeta Phi Beta; and
(7) New specialty earmarked plates, as defined in § 55-4-201:
(A) 100 Black Men;
(B) 101st Airborne Screaming Eagle [Obsolete];
(C) A Soldier's Child;
(D) African American Breast Cancer Awareness [Obsolete];
(E) Alcorn State University [Obsolete];
(F) ALS Awareness [Obsolete];
(G) Alumni Program of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville;
(H) Alzheimer's Association [Obsolete];
(I) America at Its Best;
(J) AMVETS [Obsolete];
(K) Animal Friendly;
(L) Appalachian Trail;
(M) Atlanta Braves;
(N) Autism Awareness;
(O) Back the Blue [Obsolete];
(P) Baylor School [Obsolete];
(Q) Bays Mountain;
(R) BE NICE [Obsolete];
(S) Big Brothers Big Sisters;
(T) Blood Donor [Obsolete];
(U) Boone Lake Association [Obsolete];
(V) Boy Scouts of America [Obsolete];
(W) Bristol Motor Speedway;
(X) CASA [Obsolete];
(Y) Chattanooga [Obsolete];
(Z) Chattanooga Football Club;
(AA) Child Development Services of Murfreesboro;
(BB) Childhood Cancer Awareness [Obsolete];
(CC) Childhood Hunger Awareness [Obsolete];
(DD) Children's Hospital at Erlanger [Obsolete];
(EE) Choose Life;
(FF) Civil War Preservation;
(GG) Clement Railroad Hotel Museum [Obsolete];
(HH) Combat Action [Obsolete];
(II) Crusade Against Darkness;
(JJ) Cystic Fibrosis Awareness [Obsolete];
(KK) D.A.R.E. [Obsolete];
(LL) Delta Kappa Gamma Society International [Obsolete];
(MM) Diabetes Awareness [Obsolete];
(NN) Dollywood Foundation;
(OO) Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Awareness [Obsolete];
(PP) Down Syndrome Awareness;
(QQ) Drive Electric Tennessee;
(RR) “Driving To A Cure” (Pink Ribbon);
(SS) Dyslexia Awareness [Obsolete];
(TT) Eagle Foundation;
(UU) East Tennessee Children's Hospital;
(VV) Eastern Star [Obsolete];
(WW) Elizabethton Cyclones;
(XX) Enjoy the Ride;
(YY) Explore TN;
(ZZ) Fallen Linemen [Obsolete];
(AAA) Fallen Police and Firefighters [Obsolete];
(BBB) Fighting for At-Risk Youth [Obsolete];
(CCC) Fighting for the Bullys;
(DDD) First State Flag;
(EEE) Fish and wildlife species;
(FFF) Fisk University;
(GGG) Fraternal Order of Police;
(HHH) Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms;
(III) Friends of Sycamore Shoals Historic Area, Inc.;
(JJJ) Germantown Charity Horse Show [Obsolete];
(KKK) Golfer;
(LLL) Greene County School System [Obsolete];
(MMM) Habitat for Humanity [Obsolete];
(NNN) Hampton University;
(OOO) Historic Collierville [Obsolete];
(PPP) Historic Franklin;
(QQQ) Historic Jonesborough;
(RRR) Historic Maury;
(SSS) Historic Whitehaven [Obsolete];
(TTT) Honoring the Fallen;
(UUU) Honoring Law Enforcement;
(VVV) I RECYCLE;
(WWW) I Stand with Israel [Obsolete];
(XXX) Improve Hendersonville;
(YYY) In Remembrance [Obsolete];
(ZZZ) International Association of Firefighters;
(AAAA) Isaiah 117 House;
(BBBB) Jackson State University;
(CCCC) Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail State Park [Obsolete];
(DDDD) Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) [Obsolete];
(EEEE) Kappa Delta Sorority;
(FFFF) Kiwanis International [Obsolete];
(GGGG) Knights of Columbus [Obsolete];
(HHHH) Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center;
(IIII) Let Freedom Ring [Obsolete];
(JJJJ) Linemen Power Tennessee;
(KKKK) Look Twice Save a Life;
(LLLL) Louisiana State University [Obsolete];
(MMMM) Loyal Order of Moose [Obsolete];
(NNNN) Lung Cancer Awareness [Obsolete];
(OOOO) Lupus Foundation;
(PPPP) Make-A-Wish Foundation [Obsolete];
(QQQQ) Martin Luther King, Jr. [Obsolete];
(RRRR) Masons;
(SSSS) Memphis Grizzlies;
(TTTT) Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum;
(UUUU) Memphis/Shelby County Schools Alumni [Obsolete];
(VVVV) Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare [Obsolete];
(WWWW) Millennial Debt Foundation;
(XXXX) Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt;
(YYYY) Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD);
(ZZZZ) Mountain Tough [Obsolete];
(AAAAA) Muse Knoxville [Obsolete];
(BBBBB) Nashville Cares [Obsolete];
(CCCCC) Nashville Parks Foundation [Obsolete];
(DDDDD) Nashville Predators;
(EEEEE) Nashville SC;
(FFFFF) National Rifle Association;
(GGGGG) National Wild Turkey Federation;
(HHHHH) Natural Gas Fuels Tennessee [Obsolete];
(IIIII) Niswonger Children's Hospital;
(JJJJJ) North Carolina State University [Obsolete];
(KKKKK) Nurses;
(LLLLL) Ohio State University [Obsolete];
(MMMMM) Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary;
(NNNNN) Order of The Eastern Star [Obsolete];
(OOOOO) Pancreatic Cancer Awareness [Obsolete];
(PPPPP) Pat Summitt Foundation;
(QQQQQ) Police Activities League [Obsolete];
(RRRRR) Promote Peace;
(SSSSS) Prostate Cancer Awareness [Obsolete];
(TTTTT) Protecting Rivers and Clean Waters;
(UUUUU) Radnor Lake;
(VVVVV) Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The MED);
(WWWWW) Remote Area Medical;
(XXXXX) Respiratory therapists;
(YYYYY) River Life;
(ZZZZZ) Robotics in Education;
(AAAAAA) Rotary International [Obsolete];
(BBBBBB) Save Our Smokies [Obsolete];
(CCCCCC) Save the Bees;
(DDDDDD) Service Dogs;
(CCCCCC) Service Dogs Changing Lives; 1
(DDDDDD) Share the Road; 2
(EEEEEE) Sheriff's and Police Activities League of Memphis and Shelby County [Obsolete];
(FFFFFF) Sickle Cell Foundation;
(GGGGGG) Smallmouth bass;
(HHHHHH) Sons of Confederate Veterans;
(IIIIII) Special Olympics;
(JJJJJJ) Sportsman;
(KKKKKK) Strictly Vettes [Obsolete];
(LLLLLL) Stronger Than My Father;
(MMMMMM) Suicide Prevention [Obsolete];
(NNNNNN) Support Our Troops;
(OOOOOO) Tennessee Association of Realtors;
(PPPPPP) Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry [Obsolete];
(QQQQQQ) Tennessee Councils of the Boy Scouts of America;
(RRRRRR) Tennis Memphis [Obsolete];
(SSSSSS) Tennessee School Nutrition Association [Obsolete];
(TTTTTT) Tennessee Sheriffs' Association;
(UUUUUU) Tennessee Tech University [Obsolete];
(VVVVVV) Tennessee Titans;
(WWWWWW) Tennessee Voices for Victims [Obsolete];
(XXXXXX) Tennessee Walking Horse;
(YYYYYY) Tennessee Wildlife Federation;
(ZZZZZZ) Tennessee Wildlife Federation nongame and education programs;
(AAAAAAA) TennesSEIA [Obsolete];
(BBBBBBB) The Center for Living and Learning, Inc. [Obsolete];
(CCCCCCC) The Compassionate Friends [Obsolete];
(DDDDDDD) The Equity Alliance;
(EEEEEEE) The Fairgrounds Nashville [Obsolete];
(FFFFFFF) The Ohio State University [Obsolete];
(GGGGGGG) The Volunteer State;
(HHHHHHH) Tiger Haven;
(IIIIIII) TN Back the Blue [Obsolete];
(JJJJJJJ) Trout Unlimited;
(KKKKKKK) University of Miami [Obsolete];
(LLLLLLL) University of North Carolina;
(KKKKKKK) University of South Carolina [Obsolete]; 3
(LLLLLLL) University of Tennessee Health Science Center; 4
(MMMMMMM) University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers' NCAA National Championships;
(NNNNNNN) University of Tennessee National Championship;
(OOOOOOO) University of Texas [Obsolete];
(PPPPPPP) USTA Tennessee;
(QQQQQQQ) VFW [Obsolete];
(RRRRRRR) West Virginia University [Obsolete];
(SSSSSSS) Whitehaven High School [Obsolete];
(TTTTTTT) Wilder Reign;
(UUUUUUU) Wilson County The Place to Be;
(VVVVVVV) Women's Suffrage Centennial [Obsolete];
(WWWWWWW) Youth Villages.
(d)(1) No registration plate shall be issued under this section unless authorized by this part. Registration under this part is supplemental to the motor vehicle title and registration law, compiled in chapters 1-6 of this title, and nothing in this part shall be construed as abridging or amending that law. An applicant with more than one (1) motor vehicle titled or leased in that applicant's name, or applicants with more than one (1) motor vehicle jointly titled and/or leased in their names are entitled to an unlimited number of registration plates under the applicable provision of law, as long as all other special fees and regular costs are paid by the applicant and all requirements set out in parts 1 and 2 of this chapter are followed.
(2) No qualified person shall receive more than one (1) free plate, unless the issuance of additional free plates is specifically authorized by the statute creating the cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate, memorial plate or special purpose plate.
(e) Registration plates issued to United States judges, United States senators, and members of the United States house of representatives pursuant to subdivisions (a)(9) and (a)(16)-(18) shall be of a distinctive design approved by the department and shall bear, as applicable, the district number of house members, the number “1” or “2” for senators, based on seniority, and the appropriate number for judges, based on seniority of appointment. Unless a conflict exists with other designs, the designs used before July 1, 1984, shall be used.
(f) Whenever a spouse having a cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate, memorial plate or special purpose plate is divorced and no longer entitled to the plate, the spouse no longer entitled to that plate shall deliver the plate to the county clerk, and the county clerk shall issue a regular plate valid for the same period as the cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate, memorial plate or special purpose plate.
(g) Deleted by 2023 Pub.Acts, c. 52, § 3, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.
1
Subsection (c)(7)(CCCCCC) is repeated in the official text.
2
Subsection (c)(7)(DDDDDD) is repeated in the official text.
3
Subsection (c)(7)(KKKKKKK) is repeated in the official text.
4
Subsection (c)(7)(LLLLLLL) is repeated in the official text.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Tennessee Code Title 55. Motor and Other Vehicles § 55-4-203 - last updated January 02, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-55-motor-and-other-vehicles/tn-code-sect-55-4-203/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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