Tennessee Code Title 65. Public Utilities and Carriers § 65-3-119

(a) It is the duty of the district attorneys general to bring suit in the name of the state on the relation of the department of transportation, in any court having jurisdiction thereof, to recover any penalty imposed by this chapter and chapter 5 of this title.

(b) If any company, corporation or lessee knowingly violates this chapter or chapter 5 of this title, or does any act prohibited therein, or fails or refuses to perform any duty required by the department of transportation pursuant to this chapter or chapter 5 of this title for which a penalty has not therein been provided, for each and every such act of violation it shall pay to the state of Tennessee a penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(c) All penalties provided for in this chapter or chapter 5 of this title shall be recovered, and suit thereon shall be brought, in the name of the state of Tennessee.

(d) All penalties and fines recovered shall be paid into the state treasury.