WHB/6/7
Sponsored by Kaylee Moore, Robyn Shumpert of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
This legislation was filed in the Transportation category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
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| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this act will be defined as follows: |
| 4 | a) Air Brakes: A break worked by air pressure |
| 5 | b) Compression Brakes: Brakes for heavy machinery that are delayed allowing time for vehicle to |
| 6 | slow; longer distance to stop |
| 7 | c) Hydraulic Brakes: Used on cars and light/medium trucks; brake works instantaneously, smaller |
| 8 | stopping distances |
| 9 | d) Commercial Driver’s License (CDL): A license that allows the holder to operate commercial |
| 10 | vehicles. |
| 11 | e) Class C License: A commercial driver’s license that allows the holder to drive a single vehicle |
| 12 | with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or less, a single vehicle towing a trailer or |
| 13 | other vehicle that weighs less than 10,001 pounds, or a passenger vehicle designed to transport |
| 14 | 16 or more passengers including you, the driver. Minimum age to receive this license is 18 and up. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Section 2: Whereas, the operation of vehicles equipped with air brakes requires specialized |
| 17 | knowledge and skills to ensure safety on the roads, ensuring proper training and certification for |
| 18 | drivers of vehicles with air brakes is essential for the well-being of all road users. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Section 3: All individuals operating vehicles equipped with air brakes shall be required to obtain a |
| 21 | specialized license in addition to their standard driver's license. This license will be a Class C CDL, |
| 22 | which is already required in the state of Tennessee for all 18 wheelers and tractor trailers with air |
| 23 | brakes. Currently, drivers are not required to hold a Class C CDL in order to operate a vehicle with |
| 24 | air brakes if (1) the gross vehicle weight is less than 26,001 points and (2) they are not operating |
| 25 | the vehicle for commercial purposes. This means that drivers can currently operate vehicles with |
| 26 | air breaks without a Class C CDL if they are doing so for recreational purposes. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Section 4: Prior to obtaining a specialized license for operating vehicles with air brakes, individuals |
| 29 | must undergo mandatory training approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and pass |
| 30 | a comprehensive examination to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency in operating such |
| 31 | vehicles safely. |
| 32 | |
| 33 | Section 5: Specialized licenses for operating vehicles with air brakes shall be subject to renewal |
| 34 | every 4 years; people 62 and over must renew every 2 years to ensure safe vehicular operation. |
| 35 | Renewal shall require individuals to undergo refresher training and pass a recertification |
| 36 | examination to ensure continued safety and adherence to safety standards. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Section 6: Law enforcement agencies shall enforce compliance with this law through regular |
| 39 | inspections and checks of driver licenses. Noncompliance shall result in penalties as determined by |
| 40 | the DMV, including fines, suspension of driving privileges, and mandatory retraining classes. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | Section 7: This bill will not requiring any funding from the state and may generate revenue |
| 43 | through fines. |
| 44 | |
| 45 | Section 8: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed. |
| 46 | |
| 47 | Section 9: This law shall take effect on January 1, 2025 and shall apply to all individuals operating |
| 48 | vehicles equipped with air brakes thereafter. |
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