# Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-103: Rules and forms for theft or embezzlement reports - Duties of commissioner and department of safety and department of revenue > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-103 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-103 - **Heading:** Rules and forms for theft or embezzlement reports - Duties of commissioner and department of safety and department of revenue - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 5 / Section 55-5-103 ## Text (a) (1) The commissioner of safety is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the submission of the reports required under §§ 55-5-101 and 55-5-102 . The rules and regulations shall include time limits for the submission of the reports and shall prescribe the forms that the reports shall be submitted upon. (2) The commissioner of safety shall cause to be distributed to the sheriffs' offices and police departments throughout the state the requisite forms for the reporting of the theft and recovery of stolen vehicles and parts. The commissioner of safety shall further prescribe and distribute those forms required of wrecker, garage and automobile salvage operators in regard to the recovery of stolen motor vehicles and parts. (b) (1) The department of safety, by and through the Tennessee highway patrol dispatchers, upon receiving reports of the theft or recovery of motor vehicles, shall cause this information to be filed with the national crime information center. (2) The department of safety shall further notify the department of revenue of these reports and the department of revenue, upon receiving a report of a stolen or embezzled vehicle as heretofore provided, shall file and appropriately index the same, and shall immediately suspend the certificate of title to the vehicle so reported and shall not transfer the certificate of title until such time as it is notified in writing that the vehicle has been recovered. (c) The department of revenue shall, at least once each week, compile and maintain in its office a list of all vehicles that have been stolen and embezzled or recovered as reported to it during the preceding week, and this list shall be made immediately available to the department of safety and shall be open to inspection by the general public. (d) Notwithstanding § 4-7-402 to the contrary, the police department shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the criminal investigation division to investigate theft and recovery of stolen vehicles in any county with a metropolitan form of government and having a population of more than three hundred thousand (300,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed to relieve the duty to report thefts and recoveries of stolen vehicles to the department of safety pursuant to this part. Acts 1951, ch. 70, § 72 (Williams, § 5538.172); Acts 1972, ch. 725, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-503; Acts 2007, ch. 484, § 66; 2008, ch. 775, § 1. (a) (1) The commissioner of safety is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the submission of the reports required under §§ 55-5-101 and 55-5-102 . The rules and regulations shall include time limits for the submission of the reports and shall prescribe the forms that the reports shall be submitted upon. (2) The commissioner of safety shall cause to be distributed to the sheriffs' offices and police departments throughout the state the requisite forms for the reporting of the theft and recovery of stolen vehicles and parts. The commissioner of safety shall further prescribe and distribute those forms required of wrecker, garage and automobile salvage operators in regard to the recovery of stolen motor vehicles and parts. (1) The commissioner of safety is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the submission of the reports required under §§ 55-5-101 and 55-5-102 . The rules and regulations shall include time limits for the submission of the reports and shall prescribe the forms that the reports shall be submitted upon. in regard to the recovery of stolen motor vehicles and parts. (1) The commissioner of safety is authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to the submission of the reports required under §§ 55-5-101 and 55-5-102 . The rules and regulations shall include time limits for the submission of the reports and shall prescribe the forms that the reports shall be submitted upon. (2) The commissioner of safety shall cause to be distributed to the sheriffs' offices and police departments throughout the state the requisite forms for the reporting of the theft and recovery of stolen vehicles and parts. The commissioner of safety shall further prescribe and distribute those forms required of wrecker, garage and automobile salvage operators in regard to the recovery of stolen motor vehicles and parts. (b) (1) The department of safety, by and through the Tennessee highway patrol dispatchers, upon receiving reports of the theft or recovery of motor vehicles, shall cause this information to be filed with the national crime information center. (2) The department of safety shall further notify the department of revenue of these reports and the department of revenue, upon receiving a report of a stolen or embezzled vehicle as heretofore provided, shall file and appropriately index the same, and shall immediately suspend the certificate of title to the vehicle so reported and shall not transfer the certificate of title until such time as it is notified in writing that the vehicle has been recovered. (1) The department of safety, by and through the Tennessee highway patrol dispatchers, upon receiving reports of the theft or recovery of motor vehicles, shall cause this information to be filed with the national crime information center. (2) The department of safety shall further notify the department of revenue of these reports and the department of revenue, upon receiving a report of a stolen or embezzled vehicle as heretofore provided, shall file and appropriately index the same, and shall immediately suspend the certificate of title to the vehicle so reported and shall not transfer the certificate of title until such time as it is notified in writing that the vehicle has been recovered. (c) The department of revenue shall, at least once each week, compile and maintain in its office a list of all vehicles that have been stolen and embezzled or recovered as reported to it during the preceding week, and this list shall be made immediately available to the department of safety and shall be open to inspection by the general public. (d) Notwithstanding § 4-7-402 to the contrary, the police department shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the criminal investigation division to investigate theft and recovery of stolen vehicles in any county with a metropolitan form of government and having a population of more than three hundred thousand (300,000), according to the 2000 federal census or any subsequent federal census. Nothing in this subsection (d) shall be construed to relieve the duty to report thefts and recoveries of stolen vehicles to the department of safety pursuant to this part. Acts 1951, ch. 70, § 72 (Williams, § 5538.172); Acts 1972, ch. 725, § 3; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-503; Acts 2007, ch. 484, § 66; 2008, ch. 775, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-101 Stolen and recovered motor vehicles - Duties of law enforcement officers - Responsibilities attaching to wrecker, salvage and garage businesses - Penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-102 Theft or embezzlement and recovery of registered vehicle - Notice required - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-103 Rules and forms for theft or embezzlement reports - Duties of commissioner and department of safety and department of revenue](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-104 Temporary taking of vehicle - Joyriding - Obtaining possession fraudulently - Neglect to return - Class E felony](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-105 Chauffeur using automobile without owner's consent - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-106 Required identification numbers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-107 Identification numbers - Method of installation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-108 Permanent records of transactions - Bills of sales - Inspections - Contraband subject to forfeiture - Rights of claimants - Sale of forfeited property](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-109 Penalties for sale, shipment, or manufacture of passenger cars or components not bearing identification numbers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-110 Application of Sections 55-5-106 - 55-5-109](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-111 Buying, disposing of or possessing motor vehicle, engine or transmission with removed or altered identification mark or number unlawful](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-112 Altering or changing of distinguishing number or identification mark - Restoration of vehicle identification number](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-113 Fraudulent statements in application - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-5-114 Enforcement of motor vehicle laws - Penalties - Enforcement procedures - Operation without registration plates - Penalties - Failure to license mobile home or house trailer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T55_C5_S55-5-103. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.