Q. Can
I drive a golf cart in the City of Pigeon Forge?
A. No. Traditional golf carts, as defined by
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-1-123, may not be titled and registered for on road use,
unless modified to meet all of the low or medium speed vehicle requirements in
Tennessee law and the federal safety standards contained in 49 CFR
571.500. Golf carts cannot be used on
public roads, alleys, public parking lots or sidewalks.
Q. How
do I modify my golf cart to meet vehicle requirements for Tennessee Law?
A. The standard contained in 49 CFR 571.500
(Code of Federal Regulations) requires low speed vehicles to have basic safety
equipment, including head lamps, stop lamps, front and rear turn signal lamps,
tail lamps, reflectors (one red on each side near the rear and one red on the
back), parking brake, one exterior mirror mounted on the driver’s side of the
vehicle and one additional mirror on the passenger side or an interior mirror, a
windshield meeting the standards outlined in 49 CFR 571.205 (Not plexiglass), seat belts (type 1 or
2) located at each designated seating position, and a vehicle identification
number (VIN) that conforms to provisions outlined in 49 CFR 565.
Owners
and operators of low speed vehicles, including modified golf carts, are subject
to the requirements outlined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-191 regarding the proper
operation
of these vehicles on Tennessee’s roads and must have a Class D driver license in
their possession when operating the vehicle, have the vehicle registered and provide
proof of valid insurance.
To
register a low speed vehicle, designed and manufactured for on road use,
applicants should provide to their local county clerk’s office a copy of the
vehicle’s MSO (manufacturer’s statement of origin), as proof that the vehicle
meets all statutory requirements and safety standards, along with the
traditional documentation required for vehicle registration. Applicants must
submit the low speed vehicle affidavit form (RV-F1314301) with their
registration application when there is no MSO indicating the vehicle is a low
speed vehicle. The low speed affidavit form is available on the Web site, www.tn.gov/revenue.
Owners
and operators of low speed vehicles, including modified golf carts, are subject
to the requirements outlined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-191 regarding the proper
operation of these vehicles on Tennessee’s roads and must have a Class D driver
license in their possession when operating the vehicle.
Q.
Does the Pigeon Forge Police Department certify modified golf carts as
low speed vehicles?
A. No. Currently the Pigeon Forge Police
Department does not inspect or certify modified golf carts.
Q.
What are the laws pertaining to having an intoxicating liquor in or on
any public places in Pigeon Forge?
A. Possession of intoxicating liquor is
prohibited by Pigeon Forge City Ordinance 11-
101 which states:
It
shall be unlawful for any person to drink or consume, or have an open can or
bottle of beer or intoxicating liquor in or on any public street, alley,
avenue, highway, sidewalk, public park, public school ground, or other public
place, except the consumption of beer lawfully sold and served in a
restaurant/eating place or special event location holding a lawful beer sales
permit as provided by the Pigeon Forge Municipal Code shall not be deemed a
violation hereof. (1979 Code, § 10-229, as amended by Ord. #708, Aug.
2003)
Q.
What are the rules concerning conveyances on the sidewalks?
A. All conveyances, except devices used by handicapped
persons and carriages used to transport children, are prohibited on the
sidewalk by Pigeon Forge City Ordinance 16-110.
Prohibited transportation devices include but not limited to automobile,
bicycle, skateboard, motorcycle or other conveyance that a person can push,
pull, ride or place.
Q. Can
I sell merchandise in Pigeon Forge during the car show event?
A. No person shall use or
occupy any portion of any public street, alley, sidewalk, or right of way for
the purpose of storing, selling, or exhibiting any goods, wares, merchandise,
or materials.
Q. Can I sell my car on the state right-of-way?
A. A vehicle that
is for sale on the state right-of-way can only be in a legal parking space for
72 hours. After the 72 hours it is
subject to being towed.
Q. What are the lift laws and bumper laws in
Tennessee?
A. Tennessee has
laws that limit a vehicle’s frame height and bumper height and prohibit the use
of front lift blocks. The maximum
vehicle frame height in Tennessee is governed by T.C.A. 55-9-215 and depends on
the vehicle’s GVWR. The body floor of
the vehicle must not be more than 4 inches above the top of the frame.
Vehicle
GVWR Max. Frame Height
Cars
and SUVs 22
inches
Under
4,501 lbs. 24 inches
4,501
to 7500 lbs. 26 inches
7,501
to 10,000 lbs. 28 inches
Frame height measurements shall be taken from
the bottom of the frame by measuring the vertical distance between the ground
and the lowest point of the frame directly below the point in line with the
center of the steering wheel. Frame is
the manufactured frame not a
sub frame or structure support that is modified. Bumpers are required in the state of
Tennessee. Requirements for bumpers are
that they cannot be less than 14 inches from the ground or more than 31 inches
above the ground. Drop bumpers are
permitted. They must be bolted and
welded to the frame of the vehicle.
Q. Where can I park my car?
A. The
City of Pigeon Forge has public parking on the state right of way and has a
large municipal parking lot located on Teaster lane. Private parking is regulated by the owner of
the property. All signs concerning
parking must be respected. City Ordinance 15-601 prohibits parking in any
public street or alleyway. City Ordinance 15-604 prohibits parking on a
sidewalk, in front of or obstructing any public or private drive or access. All vehicles must park in the official
markings of a parking space. If it is
not officially lined for parking then it is not a parking space and subject to
citation and/or towing.
Q.
Where is the state right of way?
A.
Unofficially the state right of way is forward of the utility poles
towards the parkway. The official
boundaries are described in detail in the City of Pigeon Forge City Ordinances.
Q. Since
it is a car show, can I spin or squeal my tires?
A.
No. This is a safety issues and
is enforced as reckless driving.
Q.
What are the rules for riding in a truck bed?
A.
Tennessee has age restrictions and occupancy restrictions for riding in
the bed of a truck. T.C.A. 55-8-189
states A person commits an offense who, on the
streets of any municipality, roads of any county, or the highways of this
state, transports a child under six (6) years of age in the bed of a truck with
a manufacturer's ton rating not exceeding three-quarter (¾) ton and having a
pickup body style. Occupancy is
restricted to the number of persons that can sit on the floor of the truck
bed. The truck bed must have sides.
Q.
Is it illegal to blow smoke from my diesel?
A.
Yes, Tennessee requires that all motor vehicles are equipped with a muffler in good working order and in
constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke.
Q. Can
I put up a tent or canopy?
A.
No. Zoning Ordinance 412 prevents
the placement of tents and canopies on any lot in Pigeon Forge.
Q.
If I leave my parking space, Can I save it for when I return?
A. No,
you cannot restrict public movement.
City Ordinance 11-604 prevents any activity on public ground that
obstructs or interferes with the free passage of pedestrian or vehicular
traffic.
Q. What laws apply to my 49cc Scooter?
A. Owners of
“motorized bicycles,” are required to wear a crash helmet by T.C.A. 55-9-302. T.C.A. 55-8-101, while providing the official
definition for "motorized bicycle," also states that these
"motorized bicycles" MUST be driven by an individual with a valid
operator's license (motorcycle endorsement not necessary). "Motorized bicycle" means a vehicle with two (2) or three (3)
wheels, an automatic transmission, and a motor with a cylinder capacity not
exceeding fifty cubic centimeters (50cc) which produces no more than two (2)
brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design
speed of no more than thirty miles per hour (30 mph) on level ground. It shall be subject to all applicable and
practical rules of the road.
Q. Can I park in a handicapped parking space on
private property even though my vehicle doesn’t have a handicap license plate
or placard?
A. No. Only a vehicle that has a handicapped license
plate or has a handicapped placard is allowed to park in a handicap space
regardless of whether the parking space is located on public or private
property (Tennessee Code Annotated 55-21-108 (4b).
The Pigeon Forge Police Department is aware of the
traffic issues that occur during some special events. We ask that all drivers obey the speed
limits, ensure that all occupants are wearing their seat belts, operate their
vehicle in a safe manner, don’t block intersections and be patient. We thank you for visiting our website and if
you have any questions not covered here you can call the police department at
865-453-9063.