(a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a law enforcement officer observing a violation of a traffic law, ordinance, rule, or regulation by a nonresident shall issue a citation as appropriate and shall not, subject to subsection (b), require the nonresident to post collateral or bond to secure appearance for trial, but shall accept the nonresident’s personal recognizance; provided, that the nonresident has the right upon request to post collateral or bond in a manner provided by law and in that case this part shall not apply.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-50-703

  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • bond: means any cash or other security deposited to secure an appearance for trial, following a citation by an arresting officer for violation of a traffic law, ordinance, rules or regulation. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • Citation: means any citation, summons, ticket, or other document issued by an arresting officer for violation of a traffic law, ordinance, rule, or regulation, ordering the arrested motorist to appear in court or before a magistrate. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Department: means department of safety. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • License: means any operator's or chauffeur's permit or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of a reciprocating state including:
    (A) Any temporary or learner's permit. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • Nonresident: means every person who is not a resident of the state. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Person: means every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Personal recognizance: means a signed agreement by an arrested motorist that the motorist will comply with the terms of the citation served upon the motorist at the time of arrest. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 55-50-701
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Traffic: means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Violation: means a conviction except as otherwise provided in §. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
(b) No nonresident shall be entitled to be released on personal recognizance if the offense is one that would result in the suspension or revocation of a person‘s license under the laws of this state.
(c) Upon the failure of the nonresident to comply with the citation, the law enforcement officer shall obtain a warrant for arrest and shall report the noncompliance to the department. The report of noncompliance shall clearly identify the nonresident; describe the violation, specifying the section of the statute, code, or ordinance violated; indicate the location and date of the offense; identify the vehicle involved; bear the signature of the law enforcement officer; and contain a copy of the personal recognizance signed by the nonresident.
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