Motor Vehicles

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Driver Education and Traffic Stop Guidelines

This bill updates guidelines for drivers during traffic stops and requires these guidelines to be taught in driver education programs and included in written exams.

What This Bill Does

• Updates the advisory guidelines for how drivers should behave when stopped by law enforcement officers, including specific actions like pulling over safely and remaining calm.
• Requires driver education programs and improvement courses to include instruction on the updated traffic stop guidelines and related laws.
• Adds questions about displaying a driver license, registration, proof of insurance, and handgun carry permit upon request from a police officer to written exams for new drivers.
• Requires the department of safety to promote these guidelines through their website, social media, and driver license renewal mailings.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who are stopped by law enforcement officers
• Students in driver education programs
• People taking written exams for a new or intermediate driver's license

Terms To Know

Advisory guidelines

Recommendations provided by the department of safety on how drivers should behave during traffic stops.

Driver education programs

Courses that teach new drivers about road rules and safe driving practices.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if the guidelines are not followed.
• It is unclear how the effectiveness of these changes will be measured or evaluated.

Official Summary Text

Present law requires the department of safety, in consultation with state and local law enforcement agencies, to develop advisory guidelines concerning best behaviors for drivers when stopped by law enforcement officers. This bill requires the departmen
t of safety to update the guidelines to include all of the following:



Pull over safely to the right side of the road as soon as possible; provided, this guideline must be consistent with other informational material published by the department.


Turn off the engine, roll down the window, and remain inside the vehicle unless instructed otherwise.


Place both hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see them.


At night, if the vehicle is equipped with interior lights, turn them on for visibility.


Wait for the officer's instructions before reaching for documents.


Provide driver license, registration, and proof of insurance, if requested.


If lawfully carrying a firearm, inform the officer if asked.


Comply if ordered to exit the vehicle.


Remain calm and courteous throughout the encounter.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Present law requires the department of education to make the advisory guidelines an integral part of driver education in this state. This bill requires the department of education and the department of safety to require driver education or improvement c
ourses to include instruction on the updated advisory guidelines and on the applicable laws of this state pertaining to displaying a driver license, registration, proof of insurance, and handgun carry permit upon the demand of a law enforcement officer.
Fu
rther, the instructions must include mock scenarios demonstrating the application of the guidelines and laws.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

This bill requires written examinations administered to an applicant for a driver license or intermediate driver license to include questions on laws of this state pertaining to
displaying a driver license, registration, proof of insurance, and handgun carry permit upon demand of a law enforcement officer
. The driver manual must be updated to include sufficient information regarding such laws.

PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS

This bill requires the department of safety to promote the advisory guidelines, including posting them on its website and social media, and including them in driver license renewal mailings.

Current Bill Text

<BillNo> <Sponsor>

SENATE BILL 2604
By Southerland
SB2604
009500
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39;
Title 40 and Title 55, relative to driver education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-206(a), is amended by
designating the existing language as subdivision (a)(1) and adding the following new subdivision
(a)(2):
(2) Within six (6) months of the effective date of this act, the department of
safety, in consultation with state and local law enforcement agencies, shall update the
advisory guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) to ensure the following are
included:
(A) Pull over safely to the right side of the road as soon as possible;
provided, this guideline must be consistent with informational material produced
by the department pursuant to § 55-8-211(4);
(B) Turn off the engine, roll down the window, and remain inside the
vehicle unless instructed otherwise;
(C) Place both hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see
them;
(D) At night, if the vehicle is equipped with interior lights, turn them on for
visibility;
(E) Wait for the officer's instructions before reaching for documents;
(F) Provide driver license, registration, and proof of insurance, if
requested;
(G) If lawfully carrying a firearm, inform the officer, if asked;

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(H) Comply if ordered to exit the vehicle; and
(I) Remain calm and courteous throughout the encounter.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-206(b), is amended by adding
the following at the end of the subsection:
By July 1, 2027, the department of education shall require driver education programs
offered pursuant to title 49, chapter 1, and the department of safety shall require driver
education or improvement courses offered pursuant to § 55-10-301, to include
instruction on the updated advisory guidelines developed pursuant to subdivision (a)(2)
and on the applicable Tennessee laws pertaining to displaying a driver license,
registration, proof of insurance, and handgun carry permit upon demand of a law
enforcement officer. The instructions must also include mock scenarios demonstrating
the application of the guidelines and laws.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-50-322(a), is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
(4) By October 1, 2027, written examinations administered to applicants for a
driver license or intermediate driver license must include questions concerning the
applicable Tennessee laws pertaining to displaying a driver license, registration, proof of
insurance, and handgun carry permit upon demand of a law enforcement officer. By
July 1, 2027, the department shall ensure the driver manual used to prepare applicants
for the license examination includes sufficient information concerning such laws to
enable a reasonably diligent applicant to correctly answer the additional questions.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-206, is amended by deleting
subsection (c) and substituting instead:

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(c) The department of safety shall promote these advisory guidelines to the
public to increase awareness and public safety, including posting them on its website
and social media and including them in driver license renewal mailings.
SECTION 5. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.