65-21-113 - Officer's right to cut, reroute or divert telephone lines in any emergency involving a barricaded person. - Tennessee Statutes

65-21-113. Officer's right to cut, reroute or divert telephone lines in any emergency involving a barricaded person.

(a)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the chief law enforcement officer of any county, city or town, or such law enforcement officer's designee, may by written request require a telephone company employee designated by the company to cut, reroute or divert telephone lines in any emergency where a person or persons barricade themselves, or where a hostage or hostages are being held to prevent telephone communication by the holder of such hostage or hostages with any person other than a law enforcement officer or person authorized by such officer. Good faith reliance on an order issued by the chief law enforcement officer of any county, city or town, or such officer's designee, constitutes a defense to any action brought against a telephone company arising out of attempts by the telephone company to comply with such order.

(b)  For the purpose of this section, a barricaded person is one who, by obstruction, barrier or otherwise, makes that person inaccessible and who constitutes a threat to the life, safety or property of that person or others.

[Acts 1992, ch. 585, § 1.]