Tennessee § 55-10-415 - Underage driving while impaired — Penalties.

§ 55-10-415. Underage driving while impaired — Penalties.

A person under twenty-one (21) years of age shall not drive or be in physical control of an automobile or other motor-driven vehicle while: Under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affecting the central nervous system, or combination thereof that impairs the driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by depriving the driver of the clearness of mind and self-control that the driver would otherwise possess; or The alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath is two-hundredths of one percent (0.02%) or more. The fact that a person who drives while under the influence of narcotic drugs or barbital drugs is or has been lawfully entitled to use the drugs does not constitute a defense to a violation of this section. This section establishes the offense of underage driving while impaired for a person under twenty-one (21) years of age. The offense of underage driving while impaired is a lesser included offense of driving while intoxicated. The offense of underage driving while impaired by a person eighteen (18) years of age or older but under twenty-one (21) years of age is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by: Driver license suspension of one (1) year; A fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and Public service work, in the discretion of the court. The act of underage driving while impaired by a person under eighteen (18) years of age is a delinquent act punishable by: Driver license suspension of one (1) year; A fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250); and Public service work, in the discretion of the court. Acts 1993, ch. 491, § 1; 1998, ch. 1046, § 3; 2013, ch. 154, § 15; T.C.A. § 55-10-415 ; Acts 2016, ch. 1030, § 1; 2016 (2nd Ex. Sess.), ch. 1, § 1. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2013, ch. 154, § 15 purported to amend this section. No amendments were made to this section by ch. 154; therefore, the act was not given effect. For the table of disposition for the DUI laws in title 55, ch. 10, part 4 due to the 2013 amendments, see the Compiler's Notes in § 55-10-401 . This section is set out to incorporate the amendments from chapter 1 of the 2nd Extraordinary Session of the 109th General Assembly.