Tennessee § 54-7-207 - Offense of damaging county highways structures.

§ 54-7-207. Offense of damaging county highways structures.

As used in this subsection (a), “county highway structure” includes any county highway, highway facility, building, bridge, overpass, tunnel, barricade, fence, wall, traffic control device, right-of-way, sign or marker of any nature whatsoever erected upon or maintained within or adjacent to a county highway or the county highway right-of-way. It is an offense for any person who is not authorized to construct or repair a county highway structure to knowingly carve upon, write, paint or otherwise mark upon, deface, rearrange, or alter any county highway structure. It is an offense for any person who is not authorized to construct or repair a county highway structure to knowingly, in any manner, destroy, damage, knock down, mutilate, mar, steal or remove any county highway structure. A violation of subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(3) is a Class A misdemeanor. In addition to any criminal penalty provided by law for a violation of subdivision (a)(2) or (a)(3), there is created a separate civil cause of action for the cost of any damage resulting from such prohibited action. There is created a civil cause of action for the cost of any damage done whenever a person negligently damages any county highway structure. Criminal actions prosecuted pursuant to this subsection (a) shall be brought by the district attorney general of the judicial district in which the damage occurred. Civil actions instituted pursuant to this subsection (a) shall be brought by the county attorney or an attorney employed by the chief administrative officer of the county highway department. Any person who reports information to a law enforcement officer that leads to the apprehension and conviction of a person for a violation of this section shall receive a reward of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). The county where the conviction occurs shall provide the reward money from the proceeds of the fines collected under this section. The proceeds from the fines imposed for violations of this section shall be collected by the respective court clerks and then deposited in a dedicated county fund. The fund shall not revert to the county general fund at the end of a fiscal year but shall remain for the vandalism enforcement rewards established in subdivision (b)(1). Each county shall expend the funds generated by the fines provided for in this section by appropriation for the vandalism enforcement rewards. Excess funds, if any, may be expended for litter control programs on adoption of an appropriate resolution by the county legislative body. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, this section shall apply to all counties. Acts 2013, ch. 472, § 4. Effective Dates. Acts 2013, ch. 472, § 5. July 1, 2013. Cross-References. Penalty for Class A misdemeanor, § 40-35-111 . Vandalism, § 39-14-408 .