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Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)

Sample Ordinance - State Traffic Offenses & Rules of the Road

Reference Number: MTAS-1484
Reviewed Date: 12/21/2021

SAMPLE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY
OF _________________ TO ADOPT BY REFERENCE
STATE TRAFFIC OFFENSES AND RULES OF THE ROAD

ORDINANCE 06-___

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF _________, TENNESSEE, REPLACING MUNICIPAL CODE § _____ AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE STATE TRAFFIC OFFENSES AND RULES OF THE ROAD.

WHEREAS, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen desires to adopt by reference state traffic offenses, registration requirements and rules of the road; and

WHEREAS, the Tennessee General Assembly amended the laws pertaining to adoption of state laws by municipalities by reference, by changing the statute under which such adoption is made and by further specifying that only Class C misdemeanors may be adopted by municipalities and enforced as municipal ordinance violations;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, that

Section 1. Municipal Code § _____, “Rules of the Road,” is repealed in its entirety.

Section 2. The following provision is added as the new § _____ of the Municipal Code of ____________:

15-126. Adoption of state traffic statutes. By the authority granted under Tennessee Code Annotated § 16-18-302, the City of _________ adopts by reference as if fully set forth in this section, the “Rules of the Road,” as codified in Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 55-8-101 through 55-8-131 and §§ 55-8-133 through 55-8-180. Additionally, the City of __________ adopts Tennessee Code Annotated §§ 55-4-101 through 55-4-128, §§ 55-4-130 through 55-4-133, §§ 55-4-135 through 55-4-138, §§ 55-8-181 through 55-8-191, § 55-8-193, § 55-8-199, §§ 55-9-401 through 55-9-408, §§ 55-9-601 through 55-9-606, § 55-12-139, and § 55-50-351, by reference as if fully set forth in this section.

Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect upon its final reading, the public welfare requiring it.


FIRST READING: _______________________________

SECOND READING: _______________________________



____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:



____________________________________
City Recorder


Approved as to form:_________________________________________________

                                    City Attorney


Note: The sample ordinance is a guide. Prior to adoption, a municipality should review the referenced statutes in the sample ordinance along with the jurisdiction requirements of T.C.A. § 16-18-302. The statutes should be current with the Tennessee Code.