55-50-302 - Classes of licenses Endorsements Applicability to temporary licenses and permits. - Tennessee Statutes

55-50-302. Classes of licenses Endorsements Applicability to temporary licenses and permits.

(a)  The department, upon issuing a driver license, shall indicate thereon the class of vehicles the licensee may drive. Licenses shall be issued with the classifications and endorsements as defined in § 55-50-102.

(b)  The department shall establish qualifications it believes reasonably necessary, in addition to the qualifications specified in this part, for the safe operation of the various types, sizes, or combinations of vehicles, and shall determine by appropriate examination whether each applicant is qualified for the license classification or endorsement for which application has been made.

(c)  The department shall not issue a license in Class A, B, or C or any of the endorsements specified in subsection (a) other than a for-hire endorsement unless the applicant meets the following qualifications in addition to all other applicable qualifications:

     (1)  The applicant must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;

     (2)  The applicant must not currently be under a driver license suspension or revocation in this or any other state;

     (3)  The applicant must certify in the license application that all of the qualifications are met.

(d)  The department shall not issue a school bus endorsement unless the applicant has had at least five (5) years of unrestricted driving experience prior to the date of application and the department is fully satisfied as to the applicant's good character, competency, and fitness to be so employed.

(e)  The department shall not issue a for-hire endorsement unless the applicant has had at least two (2) years of unrestricted driving experience prior to the date of application and the department is fully satisfied as to the applicant's good character, competency, and fitness to be so employed, and the applicant is eighteen (18) years of age and will be operating a Class D vehicle. Nothing in this subsection (e) shall authorize anyone under nineteen (19) years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle as defined in 49 CFR part 390; provided, that the department is authorized to issue a for-hire endorsement to operate a Class D vehicle to an applicant who is at least sixteen (16) years of age and who is not currently under any driver license suspension, cancellation, or revocation in this or any other state, and the vehicle is owned by the applicant's family business to conduct deliveries of goods and products exclusively for family business.

(f)  This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits.

(g)  (1)  The department shall not issue or renew a hazardous materials endorsement unless a determination of no security threat has been issued in conformance with 49 CFR part 1572.

     (2)  The department shall revoke a current hazardous materials endorsement upon receipt of an initial or final determination of security threat in accordance with 49 CFR part 1572.

[Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-104, 55-7-302; Acts 1992, ch. 617, §§ 1-3; 1992, ch. 722, § 1; 1993, ch. 450, § 1; 1994, ch. 905, § 1; 1997, ch. 179, § 1; 2005, ch. 235, § 3; 2007, ch. 194, §§ 6, 7; 2009, ch. 321, § 16.]