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Form a Business

Drivers' Permits

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 6, div. I, ch. 6.74, art. II
in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.100 Required.

6.74.100 - Required. No person shall operate a passenger vehicle for hire upon the streets and roadways of Davidson County, and no person who owns or controls a passenger vehicle for hire, as defined in Section 6.74.025, shall permit it to be so driven, and no passenger vehicle for hire licensed by the metropolitan government shall be so driven at any time for hire, unless the driver of such vehicle shall first obtain approval from the certificate holder and shall have established proven compliance with driver permit requirements as established herein. The certificate holder shall certify under oath to the MTLC director compliance with these requirements, and shall make documentation of same available upon request by the MTLC staff. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.110 Application—Information and fees required.

6.74.110 - Application—Information and fees required. A. An application for a passenger vehicle for hire driver's permit shall be filed with the certificate holder and shall comply with regulations set forth by the MTLC director. B. Such application shall be certified under oath and shall at a minimum contain the following information: 1. The name, residential address, telephone number and date of birth of the applicant. No applicant under twenty-one years of age will be accepted. 2. The type(s) of vehicle(s) which the applicant will drive under the permit. 3. Any other request for information the commission director considers necessary or relevant. C. The applicant shall provide copies of the following documents in order to submit his application: 1. A valid Tennessee driver's license that complies with all applicable requirements of state law as further specified in rules to be adopted by the MTLC. 2. A Social Security card or birth certificate. 3. If a resident alien, a current work permit or other valid United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement document. 4. On forms provided by the MTLC director, the applicant will provide a statement under penalty of perjury of their physical and mental fitness to act as for-hire driver. Such other information as may be reasonably required by regulation promulgated by the MTLC pursuant to this chapter. 5. Certification that the driver has completed the certificate holder's mandatory driver training program approved by the MTLC director. D. Each application shall be accompanied by an official driver record issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety, no more than thirty days previous to the date of application. All applicants are required to meet the following standards: 1. No convictions in the last five years for any of the following offenses involving bodily injury or death and no convictions in the last three years for any of the following offenses not involving injury or death: a. Hit and run; b. Driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or drug; c. Reckless driving. 2. For an initial permit, no more than three moving violations within the last three years and no more than two moving violations in the last year. 3. For a renewal permit, no more than four moving violations within the last three years and no more than two moving violations in the last year. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.120 Criminal background investigation.

6.74.120 - Criminal background investigation. A. Upon receiving an application for a driver's permit from an applicant, certificate holders must require the applicant to undergo an identification and background check as required by state law as more specifically provided by rules or regulations adopted by the MTLC. Upon receipt of the background check report, the director of the MTLC shall advise the certificate holder whether the applicant's background check disqualifies him or her from eligibility for a driver's permit. B. Additionally, certificate holder shall check the National Sex Offender Database to verify whether the applicant is listed on the database, and shall certify under oath to the MTLC that it has conducted this check and verified that the applicant does not appear on the database. Any applicant listed on the database shall be disqualified for eligibility for a driver's permit. C. Any applicant shall, in addition to any disqualifications listed elsewhere in this chapter, be disqualified if the applicant: 1. Has been convicted, pleaded guilty, nolo contendere, placed on judicial diversion pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. Section 40-35-313, or been released from incarceration, probation or parole within a period of seven years prior to the date of application for violation of any of the following criminal offenses under the laws of Tennessee, any other state or of the United States of America: • Homicide, • Rape, • Aggravated assault, • Kidnapping, • Robbery, • Burglary, • Domestic assault or domestic violence, • Child sexual abuse, • Any sex-related offense, • Leaving the scene of an accident, • Criminal solicitation, or criminal attempt to commit any of above, • Perjury or false swearing in making any statement under oath in connection with the application for a driver's permit, or • The felony possession, sale or distribution of narcotic drugs or controlled substances. 2. If, at the time of application, the applicant is charged with any offenses in 1. above, consideration of the application shall be deferred until entry of a plea, conviction, acquittal, dismissal, or other final disposition of the charges. 3. Has been convicted for a period of two years prior to the date of application of the violation of two or more sections of this Code or other ordinances governing the operation of vehicles for hire. 4. Has failed to disclose any criminal conviction, except traffic citations, on the application for a permit. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.130 Application approval or disapproval.

6.74.130 - Application approval or disapproval. Upon disapproval of a driver application by the MTLC director, applicants may file an appeal with the MTLC within thirty days of denial and request an appearance before the MTLC. The appeal shall be heard by the MTLC at the next available commission meeting with the appellant appearing in-person for consideration of the application. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.140 Issuance—Contents.

6.74.140 - Issuance—Contents. Upon approval of an application for a passenger vehicle for hire driver's permit, the certificate holder shall certify under oath to the MTLC director that the application is complete and accurate prior to issuing a permit to the applicant, in a form approved by the MTLC director. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.160 Expiration—Issuance and replacement fee.

6.74.160 - Expiration—Issuance and replacement fee. A. Each passenger vehicle for hire driver's permit shall be issued for a period of one year. B. A permit may be issued to qualified applicants for driver permits upon the payment of an amount to be established by the MTLC and approved by the metropolitan council by resolution by the certificate holder to the MTLC, to cover the costs of investigation of a random sampling of the permit applications by the MTLC director. A fee in an amount to be established by the MTLC by rule and approved by the metropolitan council by resolution shall be charged for all replacement driver permits. The permit may consist of an electronic decal in a form subject to the approval of the MTLC director, so long as it is displayed in a format that is readily available, permits verification of its accuracy and identification with the driver displaying it, and is not capable of being altered or manipulated. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.165 Hospitality training program—Participation required.

6.74.165 - Hospitality training program—Participation required. A. Beginning July 1, 2019, every newly licensed passenger vehicle for hire driver shall have attended an approved hospitality program prior to receiving a driver's permit. B. Beginning July 1, 2019, every previously licensed passenger vehicle for hire driver shall attend an approved hospitality training course or refresher course prior to applying for or renewal of a driver's permit each year. This course shall include updated information on any new MTLC regulations and safety requirements. (Ord. BL2019-1490 § 2, 2019)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.170 Display of permit.

6.74.170 - Display of permit. Every driver to whom a permit is issued under this article shall have available his driver's permit in accordance with MTLC rules while such driver is operating a passenger vehicle for hire, which may be an electronic decal consistent with the provisions in Section 6.74.160, above. If the driver or TNC operator ceases his or her affiliation with the certificate holder, the certificate holder must notify the MTLC Director within ten days. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.180 Suspension and revocation.

6.74.180 - Suspension and revocation. A. The MTLC director is authorized to suspend, revoke, otherwise restrict, or not renew any driver's permit issued under this article for failing or refusing to comply with the provisions of this chapter or the MTLC rules and regulations. Upon suspension, revocation, or other restriction of any driver's permit, appeals can be made to the MTLC by filing a written request within thirty days of the action being appealed. B. If the driver commits an act in violation of the Criminal Code and the MTLC director determines that driver poses a threat to public safety, the MTLC director may enact an emergency suspension of the driver's permit to remain in effect until the driver has the opportunity to be heard by the MTLC at the next available commission meeting, but in no circumstance later than sixty days from the date of the emergency suspension. C. A driver whose permit is revoked by the MTLC or MTLC director may not reapply for ninety days from the date of revocation and will be treated as a new applicant. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.185 Revocation of Tennessee driver's license.

6.74.185 - Revocation of Tennessee driver's license. The driver's permit of any driver whose Tennessee driver's license is suspended or revoked shall be invalid during any such period of suspension or revocation. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 6.74.190 Compliance with provisions.

6.74.190 - Compliance with provisions. Every driver granted a permit under this article shall comply with all metropolitan government, state and federal laws. Failure to do so may result in the suspension or revocation of the passenger vehicle for hire driver permit. (Ord. BL2014-952 § 1, 2014)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT6BULIRE_DIVIGERE_CH6.74OTPAVEHI_ARTIIDRPEFetched: 10/28/2026

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