New Law A Day: Tennessee Says Wheelchairs Are Not Vehicles

Did you ever hear the story about the man in the wheelchair who was arrested by authorities for driving drunk? I'm not joking. This happens several times every year, usually in foreign countries, but it does happen. In most cases, the wheelchair is motorized leading police to say the person was driving or operating a mode of transportation.

Tennessee lawmakers addressed this issue this year, passing House Bill 3260. The new law adds any person using a motorized or nonmotorized wheelchair to the definition of pedestrian for the purpose of the rules of the road related to the operation of motor vehicles. That means a motorized wheelchair should not be considered to be a "vehicle."

Still, lawmakers don't expect the new definition to be enforced any differently by law enforcement. I looked for an example of where someone operating a wheelchair has been arrested for DUI in Tennessee, and failed to turn up anything. I guess this law was passed in case the occasion ever occurs.