NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State troopers are looking to drop the word 'highway' from their agency's name to become known solely as the Tennessee State Patrol.
The Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday unanimously advanced the measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Steve Southerland of Morristown to a full floor vote.
THP Col. Tracy Trott said the name change would better reflect the troopers' responsibilities that go beyond traffic enforcement.
Trott said the proposal did not originate with Gov. Bill Haslam's administration but added that Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons "does not object" to the proposal.
Trott said the name change would not cost anything because it would be phased in on new vehicles and materials like stationery and reports.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol was created in 1929.
Read SB1494 at http://www.capitol.tn.gov
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
