55-5-129 - Impounded vehicles Entry onto private property. - Tennessee Statutes

55-5-129. Impounded vehicles Entry onto private property.

(a)  As used in this section, “impound” means removing a vehicle from a private parking lot adjacent to a street, alley, highway, or thoroughfare by a uniformed police officer, to the nearest garage or other place of safety or to a garage designated or maintained by a law enforcement agency.

(b)  Authorized personnel of the appropriate law enforcement agency in any county or municipality of this state have the authority to impound any vehicle after determining the existence of any one (1) or more of the following factors:

     (1)  The registration plate displayed on the vehicle is stolen or is otherwise not registered to the vehicle; or

     (2)  The renewal decal displayed on the vehicle is stolen or is otherwise not registered to the vehicle.

(c)  Sections 55-16-105 and 55-16-106 shall govern the disposition of any vehicle impounded pursuant to this section.

(d)  Law enforcement personnel must secure permission of the owner of any private property before entering onto the property for the purposes of this section.

[Acts 1993, ch. 261, § 1.]