Tenn. Code Ann. § 69-1-107
This is the official text of Tenn. Code Ann. § 69-1-107, part of Tennessee’s Code Ann — part of the compiled statutory law of Tennessee, published by the state as "Code Ann." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Obstructing river - Penalty
Official statutory text
(a) Any person who obstructs the navigation of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream, by building mills, erecting dams or locks, in or across the same, unless authorized by law, or by any other means whatever, shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), one half (½) to the use of the person who sues for it and the other one half (½) to the use of the state. (b) In addition to the civil penalty in subsection (a), such obstruction of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream is a Class C misdemeanor. Code 1858, § 1305 (deriv. Acts 1819, ch. 63, § 4); Shan., § 1814; Code 1932, § 3080; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 70-107; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.
(a) Any person who obstructs the navigation of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream, by building mills, erecting dams or locks, in or across the same, unless authorized by law, or by any other means whatever, shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), one half (½) to the use of the person who sues for it and the other one half (½) to the use of the state.
(b) In addition to the civil penalty in subsection (a), such obstruction of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream is a Class C misdemeanor.
Code 1858, § 1305 (deriv. Acts 1819, ch. 63, § 4); Shan., § 1814; Code 1932, § 3080; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 70-107; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.
(a) Any person who obstructs the navigation of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream, by building mills, erecting dams or locks, in or across the same, unless authorized by law, or by any other means whatever, shall be liable to a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250), one half (½) to the use of the person who sues for it and the other one half (½) to the use of the state.
(b) In addition to the civil penalty in subsection (a), such obstruction of the main channel of any navigable river or other stream is a Class C misdemeanor.
Code 1858, § 1305 (deriv. Acts 1819, ch. 63, § 4); Shan., § 1814; Code 1932, § 3080; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 70-107; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.
Status: in_force
Need a lawyer in Tennessee?
Find a Tennessee lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.