Tenn. Code Ann. » Tenn. Code / Title 55 / Chapter 50 / Part 3
Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 (2026)

License to be carried and exhibited on demand - Arrest and penalty for violations

✓ current as of May 2026
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Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 17, eff. 7/1/2024.

Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 8; impl. am. Acts 1939, ch. 205, §§ 2, 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.16 (Williams, § 2715.21); Acts 1957, ch. 209, § 2; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 59-709, 55-7-109, 55-7-351; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 2000, ch. 700, § 12.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1991–2026 · leading case: State v. Hicks, 55 S.W.3d 515 (Tenn. 2001).
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State v. Hicks, 55 S.W.3d 515 (Tenn. 2001). · cites it 16× “Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351(a) provides that [I]t is unlawful for any law enforcement officer of this state, except a state patrol officer or officer of the department, to demand the exhibition of such [drivers'] licenses, unless the operator of the motor vehicle…”
State v. Levitt, 73 S.W.3d 159 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2001). · cites it 9× “The evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Appellant was operating a motor vehicle in violation of T.C.A. § 55-50-351, requiring that an individual carry a valid drivers [sic] license and display same when asked to by law…”
Bankston v. State, 815 S.W.2d 213 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1991). · cites it 4× “§ 55-50-504); carrying and exhibiting license (T.C.A. § 55-50-351); fraudulent use or display of license (T.”
State v. Downey, 945 S.W.2d 102 (Tenn. 1997). · cites it 2× “§ 4-7-104 and § 55-50-351. [4] The Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld sobriety roadblocks in the following cases: State v.”
State v. Jackson, 313 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). · cites it 8× “The state argued at the evidentiary hearing that the officer was statutorily authorized to take the defendant into custody for driving without a license pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351. The defendant argued that the offenses of driving without a license…”
State v. McCulloch, 906 S.W.2d 3 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “§ 55-50-804 provides that “[t]he licensee shall have the licensee’s license in immediate possession at all times when driving a motor vehicle and shall display it upon demand of any officer or agent of the department or any police officer of the state, county or munici-pality_”…”
United States v. Williams, 170 F. App'x 399 (6th Cir. 2006). · cites it 2× “There is no bright-line test for determining when an investigatory stop crosses the line and 3 Officer Gonzalez testified that Williams was arrested for driving without a license in violation of Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 , which is a misdemeanor offense under Tennessee law.”
State v. Morelock, 851 S.W.2d 838 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). · cites it 2× “…we affirm the judgment of the trial court and dismiss the indictment. BYERS, P.J., and JONES, J., concur. 1 . T.C.A. § 55-50-351(a).”
State of Tennessee v. Lawrence Ralph, Sr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). · cites it 13× “It is Defendant’s contention that he complied with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351(a), regarding the display of a driver’s license, and that his subsequent arrest was, therefore, unlawful.”
Tulis v. Bennett (E.D. Tenn. 2025). · cites it 5× “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 (a). Refusing to produce a driver’s license when requested by law enforcement is also a Class C misdemeanor.”
State of Tennessee v. Steven O. Hughes-Mabry (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 (a) (emphasis added).”
State v. Waller (Tenn. Crim. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “T.C.A. § 55-50-351. Failure to have possession of an operator's license is a Class C misdemeanor, and any law enforcement officer is empowered to arrest any person found violating this statute.”
Show all 22 citing cases →
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351(a) — 6 cases
State v. Hicks, 55 S.W.3d 515 (Tenn. 2001). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351(a) provides that [I]t is unlawful for any law enforcement officer of this state, except a state patrol officer or officer of the department, to demand the exhibition of such [drivers'] licenses, unless the operator of the motor vehicle…”
State v. Jackson, 313 S.W.3d 270 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2008). “The state argued at the evidentiary hearing that the officer was statutorily authorized to take the defendant into custody for driving without a license pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351. The defendant argued that the offenses of driving without a license…”
State v. Morelock, 851 S.W.2d 838 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1992). “…we affirm the judgment of the trial court and dismiss the indictment. BYERS, P.J., and JONES, J., concur. 1 . T.C.A. § 55-50-351(a).”
State of Tennessee v. Lawrence Ralph, Sr. (Tenn. Crim. App. 2005). “It is Defendant’s contention that he complied with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-50-351(a), regarding the display of a driver’s license, and that his subsequent arrest was, therefore, unlawful.”
State of Tennessee v. Steven O. Hughes-Mabry (Tenn. Crim. App. 2013). “Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 (a) (emphasis added).”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351(b) — 1 case
Tulis v. Bennett (E.D. Tenn. 2025). “” Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-351 (a). Refusing to produce a driver’s license when requested by law enforcement is also a Class C misdemeanor.”
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