Hit and Run Laws in Tennessee
55-10-101. Accidents involving death or personal injury. (a) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible, but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of § 55-10-103. Every such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. The requirements herein apply to accidents occurring upon highways and the premises of any shopping center, trailer park or any apartment house complex, or any other premises which are generally frequented by the public at large. (b) (1) A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) It is a Class E felony for any person to fail to stop or to comply with the requirements of subsection (a) when such person knew or should reasonably have known that death resulted from the accident. (c) The commissioner shall revoke the license or permit to drive and any nonresident operating privilege of the person convicted of a violation of this section. [Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 78; 1976, ch. 674, § 1; T.C.A., § 59-1001; Acts 1984, ch. 758, § 1; 1988, ch. 788, § 1; 1989, ch. 323, § 1; 1989, ch. 591, §§ 1, 6, 111.] 40-35-111. Authorized terms of imprisonment and fines for felonies and misdemeanors. (a) A sentence for a felony is a determinate sentence. (b) The authorized terms of imprisonment and fines for felonies are: (1) Class A felony, not less than fifteen (15) nor more than sixty (60) years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), unless otherwise provided by statute; (2) Class B felony, not less than eight (8) nor more than thirty (30) years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), unless otherwise provided by statute; (3) Class C felony, not less than three (3) years nor more than fifteen (15) years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), unless otherwise provided by statute; (4) Class D felony, not less than two (2) years nor more than twelve (12) years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), unless otherwise provided by statute; and (5) Class E felony, not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years. In addition, the jury may assess a fine not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000), unless otherwise provided by statute. (c) A sentence to pay a fine, when imposed on a corporation for an offense defined in title 39 or for any offense defined in any other title for which no special corporate fine is specified, is a sentence to pay an amount, not to exceed: (1) Three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) for a Class A felony; (2) Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) for a Class B felony; (3) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for a Class C felony; (4) One hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) for a Class D felony; and (5) Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a Class E felony. If a special fine for a corporation is expressly specified in the statute which defines an offense, the fine fixed shall be within the limits specified in the statute. (d) A sentence for a misdemeanor is a determinate sentence. (e) The authorized terms of imprisonment and fines for misdemeanors are: (1) Class A misdemeanor, not greater than eleven (11) months twenty-nine (29) days or a fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute; (2) Class B misdemeanor, not greater than six (6) months or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute; and (3) Class C misdemeanor, not greater than thirty (30) days or a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute. [Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 6.] 40-2-101. Felonies. (Statute of Limitations) (a) A person may be prosecuted, tried and punished for an offense punishable with death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary during life, at any time after the offense is committed. (b) Prosecution for a felony offense shall begin within: (1) Fifteen (15) years for a Class A felony; (2) Eight (8) years for a Class B felony; (3) Four (4) years for a Class C or Class D felony; and (4) Two (2) years for a Class E felony. (c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), offenses arising under the revenue laws of the state shall be commenced within three (3) years next after the commission of the offense, except that the period of limitation of prosecution shall be six (6) years in the following instances: (1) Offenses involving the defrauding or attempting to defraud the state of Tennessee or any agency thereof, whether by conspiracy or not, and in any manner; (2) The offense of willfully attempting in any manner to evade or defeat any tax or the payment thereof; (3) The offense of willfully aiding or abetting, or procuring, counseling or advising, the preparation or presentation under, or in connection with, any matter arising under the revenue laws of the state, or a false or fraudulent return, affidavit, claim or document, whether or not such falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present such return, affidavit, claim or document; (4) The offense of willfully failing to pay any tax, or make any return at the time or times required by law or regulation; and (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (b)(3) to the contrary, prosecution for the offense of arson as prohibited by § 39-14-301 shall commence within eight (8) years from the date the offense occurs. (d) Prosecutions for any offense committed against a child prior to July 1, 1997, that constitutes a criminal offense under the provisions of §§ 39-2-601 [repealed], 39-2-603 [repealed], 39-2-604 [repealed], 39-2-606 [repealed], 39-2-607 [repealed], 39-2-608 [repealed], 39-2-612 [repealed], 39-4-306 [repealed], 39-4-307 [repealed], 39-6-1137 [repealed], or § 39-6-1138 [repealed], or under the provisions of §§ 39-13-502 - 39-13-505, § 39-15-302 or § 39-17-902 shall commence no later than the date the child attains the age of majority or within four (4) years next after the commission of the offense, whichever occurs later; provided, that pursuant to subsection (a), an offense punishable by life imprisonment may be prosecuted at any time after the offense shall have been committed. (e) For offenses committed prior to November 1, 1989, the limitation of prosecution in effect at that time shall govern. (f) Prosecutions for any offense committed against a child on or after July 1, 1997, that constitutes a criminal offense under the provisions of §§ 39-13-502 - 39-13-505, § 39-13-522, § 39-15-302 or § 39-17-902 shall commence no later than the date the child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age; provided, that if the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) provide a longer period of time within which prosecution may be brought than this subsection (f), the applicable provision of subsection (a) or (b) shall prevail. [Code 1932, §§ 11481-11483; Acts 1977, ch. 62, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 40-201 - 40-203; Acts 1985, ch. 478, § 21; 1990, ch. 980, § 17; 1997, ch. 214, §§ 1, 2; 1998, ch. 962, § 1.]
Hit and Run Accidents
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