(a)

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-4-271

  • Owner: means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle, or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof, with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(1) Subject to the requirements of § 55-4-202, the commissioner is authorized, and shall issue, a registration plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a national guard plate, enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(3), a Tennessee state guard plate, enumerated in § 55-4-269, a memorial plate, enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(4), or a military plate, enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(5); provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles; and, except for an owner or lessee eligible for a memorial plate, enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(4), and as provided in § 55-4-255(d)(1)(A) for an enlisted national guard member, pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles, and the applicable fee specified in § 55-4-204, prior to the issuance of any such plate.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the issuance of an additional plate or plates free of charge to an eligible owner or lessee, whether for a motorcycle, authorized motor vehicle, or a combination of the two, above the total number of free plates authorized by § 55-4-261 for former prisoners of war, by § 55-4-258 pertaining to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, by § 55-4-259 for recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star (Valor), Air Medal (Valor), or the Distinguished Flying Cross, by § 55-4-256 for disabled veterans, including those disabled veterans who choose to receive the Purple Heart plate, pursuant to § 55-4-256(d), or by § 55-4-255(d)(1)(A) for enlisted national guard members, as applicable.
(b) The motorcycle plates authorized by this section shall be substantially the same in design and configuration, allowing for variations due to size restrictions, as the regular motor vehicle registration plates authorized by § 55-4-203(c)(5)(G)(v) for combat veterans, by § 55-4-203(c)(5)(G)(ix) for the Marine Corps League, by § 55-4-255 for national guard members, by § 55-4-269 for state guard members, by § 55-4-260 for Air Medal (Meritorious) and Bronze Star (Meritorious) recipients, by § 55-4-261 for former prisoners of war, by § 55-4-258 pertaining to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, by § 55-4-259 for recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star (Valor), Air Medal (Valor), or the Distinguished Flying Cross, by § 55-4-256 for disabled veterans, by § 55-4-262 for Pearl Harbor survivors, by § 55-4-257 for holders of the Purple Heart, by § 55-4-254 for members of the United States reserve forces, by § 55-4-263 for enemy evadees, by § 55-4-252 for active and retired members of the United States military and the United States military reserves in good standing, or by § 55-4-253 for honorably discharged veterans, as applicable.
(c) The funds produced from the sale and renewal of the motorcycle plates shall be allocated in accordance with § 55-4-216 for the military plates enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(5)(G), and in accordance with § 55-4-218 for the national guard plates enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(3) and the memorial plates enumerated in § 55-4-203(c)(4), as applicable.