Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-606 (2026)

Electronic tracking of motor vehicles

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a)
- (1)
  - (A) Except as provided in subsection (b), it is an offense for a person to knowingly install, conceal or otherwise place an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle without the consent of all owners of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring or following an occupant or occupants of the vehicle.
  - (B) It is an offense for a person who leases a motor vehicle to knowingly install, conceal, or otherwise place an electronic tracking device in or on the motor vehicle without the consent of the lessee of the vehicle.
- (2) As used in this section:
  - (A) "Lease" has the same meaning as defined in § 39-14-147;
  - (B) "Owner" includes a person who has purchased a motor vehicle using a loan; and
  - (C) "Person" does not include the manufacturer of the motor vehicle.

(b)
- (1) It shall not be a violation if the installing, concealing or placing of an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of, a law enforcement officer in furtherance of a criminal investigation and is carried out in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
- (2) If the installing, concealing or placing of an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is by, or at the direction of, a parent or legal guardian who owns or leases the vehicle, and if the device is used solely for the purpose of monitoring the minor child of the parent or legal guardian when the child is an occupant of the vehicle, then the installation, concealment or placement of the device in or on the vehicle without the consent of any or all occupants in the vehicle shall not be a violation.
- (3) It shall also not be a violation of this section if the installing, concealing or placing of an electronic tracking device in or on a motor vehicle is for the purpose of tracking the location of stolen goods being transported in the vehicle or for the purpose of tracking the location of the vehicle if it is stolen.

(c) This section shall not apply to a tracking system installed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle.

(d) A violation of this section is a Class A misdemeanor.

Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 860,s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.

Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 860,s 1, eff. 7/1/2016.

Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 790,s 1, eff. 7/1/2014.

Acts 1997, ch. 339, § 1.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2002–2026 · leading case: Aegis Investigative Grp. v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 98 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002).

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Aegis Investigative Grp. v. Metro. Gov't of Nashville & Davidson Cnty., 98 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 4× “Metro held the device as potential evidence in a stalking and illegal use investigation and notified the Murfreesboro Police Department of a possible violation of Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-606. No charges were placed against Aegis.”

Commonwealth v. Brennan, 112 N.E.3d 1180 (Mass. 2018). “Laws § 11-69-1 (person may not knowingly install tracking device in or on motor vehicle without consent of all owners and occupants of vehicle for purpose of monitoring or following occupant); Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-606 (person may not knowingly install tracking device in or on…”

Ashley Shearin Meade v. Paducah Nissan, LLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 14× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-606 (a)(1). The term “lease” as it is used in section 39-13-606 is defined as “the grant of use and possession of a motor vehicle for consideration, whether or not the grant includes an option to buy the vehicle[.”

Long v. City of Clarksville, Tennessee (M.D. Tenn. 2022). “§ 39-13-606 ; and violating an order of protection, a misdemeanor, in violation of Tenn.”

John William Owens Et.al v. Meredith Elizabeth Owens (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026). “On August 29, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary nonsuit of the following claims: (1) violation of Tennessee Code Annotated § 39-13-606 (involving Ms. Owens’s use of a tracking device), (2) intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress, (3) defamation, and (4)…”

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