(a) The members of the Tennessee highway patrol are clothed with all such necessary police powers as will enable them properly to perform their duties, as outlined and defined in §§ 4-7-104 - 4-7-106, including the right to make arrests and the right to serve criminal warrants and subpoenas for witnesses. The fees taxed to them for arrests and service of warrants only for violations of the laws of the road and violations of the revenue laws of the state, and subpoenas are to be paid over to the commissioner of safety, and then to be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the general fund of this state, and such funds as may be necessary for the operation of the Tennessee highway patrol shall be made available through appropriation by the general assembly.(b) Each patrol officer appointed shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age.(c) All members of the Tennessee highway patrol when on duty shall wear a uniform to be designated by the commissioner of safety and shall be provided with a bullet-proof or protective vest for wear in hazardous situations.(d) All members of the Tennessee highway patrol shall be provided with training in proper procedures to respond to be provided with a bullet-proof or protective vest for wear in hazardous situations.(d) All members of the Tennessee highway patrol shall be provided with training in proper procedures to respond to persons with mental illnesses.Acts 1929 (Ex. Sess.), ch. 25, § 5; Code 1932, § 11463; impl. am. Acts 1937, ch. 33, § 44; impl. am. Acts 1939, ch. 11, §§ 10, 27; impl. am. Acts 1945, ch. 28, §§ 1-3; C. Supp. 1950, § 11463; Acts 1951, ch. 256, § 2; 1963, ch. 274, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; modified; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 4-706; Acts 1984, ch. 927, § 1; 2007, ch. 259, § 1.
Tennessee Legal Code