(a) As used in this section:

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-8-188

  • Bus: means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of safety. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Department: means the department of safety. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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) “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.
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