Tennessee
Driver Information By State
Every state regulates driver's license eligibility of persons with certain medical conditions. The most common requirement for people with epilepsy is that they be seizure free for a specific period of time and submit a physician's evaluation of their ability to drive safely. Another common requirement is the periodic submission of medical reports, in some states for a specified period of time and in others for as long as the person remains licensed.
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| Law | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| DMV Appeal of License Denial | Yes |
| Doctors to Report Epilepsy | No |
| Periodic Medical Updates Required After Licensing | At discretion of Medical Review Board |
| Seizure-Free Period | 6 to 12 months, with exceptions |
Tennessee Driver Licensing Laws
A person with epilepsy must be seizure free for a period of one year and have a favorable doctor’s recommendation before applying for a license. However, an individual whose seizures have been controlled for six months may be approved for driving privileges if the Department of Safety receives a favorable recommendation from the individual’s physician and the Medical Review Board, and the person may be required to submit to additional evaluations as the Department sees fit. TENN. COMP. R. & REGS. 1340-01-04-.06(2)(i) (2020). A person whose license has been suspended or denied may appeal the decision by requesting an administrative hearing. The request must be made to the Department within thirty days of the proposed suspension notice. TENN. COMP. R. & REGS. 1340-01-04-.06(3) (2020). A petition for appeal from the outcome of the hearing must be filed within ten days. The second administrative decision is a final order, and a petition for review in a chancery court must be filed within sixty days. TENN. CODE ANN. § 4-5-322 (2020).
Commercial Driving
Tennessee has adopted the federal Department of Transportation's medical criteria for issuing intrastate commercial drivers' licenses. Persons with epilepsy are eligible for commercial driver’s licenses, if the applicant has been seizure-free for one year with a physician’s favorable recommendation or for six months and obtains a favorable recommendation from the individual’s doctor and the Medical Review Board. TENN. COMP. R. & REGS. 1340-01-13-.09 (2020).
Tennessee Identification Card
A person with a physical disability who is unable to obtain a driver's license can obtain a permanent photo identification card from the Department of Safety. TENN. COMP. R. & REGS. 1340-1-13-.06 (2020). The fee for an identification card is $12. Proof of U.S. citizenship and a secondary source of identification are required to obtain an identification card.
Tennessee Reporting
There is no law requiring physicians to report patients with epilepsy to a central state agency. There is also no statutory authority giving physicians immunity for reporting their patients.
© 2020 Epilepsy Foundation. All rights reserved. This summary was developed for informational purposes by the Epilepsy Foundation and reflects a review of data available as of August 2020. Information is subject to change. This summary is not a substitute for legal advice. For further information, please consult your state Department of Motor Vehicles.