House Bill 302 amends Tennessee Code Annotated to introduce new restrictions on the parking and stopping of vehicles on public highways and streets. Specifically, it adds a provision that makes it an offense for an occupant of a vehicle to park, leave standing, or stop in a manner that blocks or impedes the normal movement of traffic while soliciting or negotiating an employment transaction with individuals nearby. This new language is designated as subdivision (2) under Section 55-8-139(a).

Additionally, the bill modifies the penalties associated with violations of this section. It reclassifies the violation as a Class C misdemeanor, with the stipulation that individuals committing a first offense 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, as stipulated in the bill.

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