House Bill 302 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to introduce new restrictions on the use of public highways and streets concerning vehicular activity related to employment transactions. Specifically, it establishes that it is an offense for a vehicle occupant to park, stop, or leave the vehicle in a manner that blocks or impedes traffic while soliciting or negotiating employment with individuals near the roadway. This new provision is added as subdivision (2) under Section 55-8-139(a).

Additionally, the bill modifies the penalties for violations of this section. It reclassifies the violation as a Class C misdemeanor, with the stipulation that first-time offenders must receive a warning citation. However, if a violation of the new subdivision (a)(2) leads to a motor vehicle accident, the offense escalates to a Class B misdemeanor. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55-8-139(a), 55-8-139, 55-8-139(e)