# Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-110: Spotlighting deer - Penalty > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-110 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-110 - **Heading:** Spotlighting deer - Penalty - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 70 / Chapter 4 / Section 70-4-110 ## Text (a) (1) It is unlawful for any person, or one (1) or more of a group of persons together, to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, on or from any highway, or in any field, woodland, or forest, or the waters of the state, in an apparent attempt or intent to locate deer by the use of such light, unless such person or persons direct such light onto property owned by such person or one of the persons involved, or such person or group of persons has written permission from the landowner to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light onto the property of the landowner. Such written permission must be in immediate possession at all times and the individual shall display same upon demand of law enforcement. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), it is unlawful to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, at any time from or on any public roadway. (b) The operator of any motor vehicle or vessel from which the rays of an artificial light have been cast as outlined in subsection (a) shall immediately stop such vehicle or vessel upon the direction of any enforcement officer of the wildlife resources agency. (c) A violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor. (d) In the prosecution of second or subsequent offenders, the indictment or presentment must allege the prior conviction for violating any of the provisions of this section, setting forth the time and place of each such prior conviction. The court shall prohibit such convicted person, either first or subsequent offenders, from hunting, fishing or trapping in this state for a period of one (1) year. Acts 1951, ch. 115, § 47 (Williams, § 5178.76); Acts 1961, ch. 198, § 3; 1967, ch. 278, §§ 1, 2; 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1974, ch. 498, § 1; 1974, ch. 499, § 1; 1974, ch. 703, § 1; 1976, ch. 456, §§ 1, 2; 1976, ch. 620, § 1; 1976, ch. 667, § 1; 1976, ch. 681, § 1; 1982, ch. 701, §§ 1-6; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 51-417, 51-429; Acts 1983, ch. 385, § 3; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1990, ch. 981, § 3; 2011, ch. 191, § 1. (a) (1) It is unlawful for any person, or one (1) or more of a group of persons together, to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, on or from any highway, or in any field, woodland, or forest, or the waters of the state, in an apparent attempt or intent to locate deer by the use of such light, unless such person or persons direct such light onto property owned by such person or one of the persons involved, or such person or group of persons has written permission from the landowner to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light onto the property of the landowner. Such written permission must be in immediate possession at all times and the individual shall display same upon demand of law enforcement. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), it is unlawful to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, at any time from or on any public roadway. ediate possession at all times and the individual shall display same upon demand of law enforcement. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), it is unlawful to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, at any time from or on any public roadway. (1) It is unlawful for any person, or one (1) or more of a group of persons together, to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, on or from any highway, or in any field, woodland, or forest, or the waters of the state, in an apparent attempt or intent to locate deer by the use of such light, unless such person or persons direct such light onto property owned by such person or one of the persons involved, or such person or group of persons has written permission from the landowner to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light onto the property of the landowner. Such written permission must be in immediate possession at all times and the individual shall display same upon demand of law enforcement. (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), it is unlawful to willfully throw or cast, or cause to be thrown or cast, the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light from any motor vehicle or vessel or with the aid of any motor vehicle or vessel, at any time from or on any public roadway. (b) The operator of any motor vehicle or vessel from which the rays of an artificial light have been cast as outlined in subsection (a) shall immediately stop such vehicle or vessel upon the direction of any enforcement officer of the wildlife resources agency. (c) A violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor. (d) In the prosecution of second or subsequent offenders, the indictment or presentment must allege the prior conviction for violating any of the provisions of this section, setting forth the time and place of each such prior conviction. The court shall prohibit such convicted person, either first or subsequent offenders, from hunting, fishing or trapping in this state for a period of one (1) year. Acts 1951, ch. 115, § 47 (Williams, § 5178.76); Acts 1961, ch. 198, § 3; 1967, ch. 278, §§ 1, 2; 1974, ch. 481, § 21; 1974, ch. 498, § 1; 1974, ch. 499, § 1; 1974, ch. 703, § 1; 1976, ch. 456, §§ 1, 2; 1976, ch. 620, § 1; 1976, ch. 667, § 1; 1976, ch. 681, § 1; 1982, ch. 701, §§ 1-6; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), §§ 51-417, 51-429; Acts 1983, ch. 385, § 3; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1990, ch. 981, § 3; 2011, ch. 191, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-101 Ownership and title to wildlife vested in the state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-102 Illegal taking, possession or destruction of wildlife - Penalty for violations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-103 Fox hunting - Training of hunting dogs - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-104 Catching or killing fish - Fishing regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-105 Lawful possession of wildlife by legal license holders](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-106 Permission of owner of land to take wildlife or big game required - Penalty for violations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-107 Hunting and fishing seasons - Bag and creel limits - Nonprotected wildlife](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-108 Hunting from or across public road or near dwelling - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-108.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-109 Hunting from aircraft, watercraft or motor vehicles unlawful - Exception for persons confined to wheelchairs - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-109.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-110 Spotlighting deer - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-110.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-111 Hunting or killing any big game during closed season - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-111.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-112 Hunting and chasing raccoons regulated - Training season - Violations - Penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-112.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-113 Use of bait, pitfalls and certain other devices in taking birds and animals prohibited - Penalty - Exceptions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-113.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 70-4-114 Destruction of dens or nests - Spotlighting - Use of spears, explosives, chemicals or other devices unlawful - Penalty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-114.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T70_C4_S70-4-110. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.