The specific Tennessee code that applies:
55-8-110. Traffic-control signals.
(a) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words "Go," "Caution" or "Stop," or exhibiting different colored lights successively one (1) at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and the terms and lights shall indicate and apply to drivers or vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green alone or "Go":
(A) Vehicular traffic facing the signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited; and
(B) Pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk;
(2) Yellow alone or "Caution," when shown following the green or "Go" signal:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing the signal is thereby warned that the red or "Stop" signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter or cross the intersection when the red or "Stop" signal is exhibited; and
(B) Pedestrians facing such signal are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway, and any pedestrian then starting to cross shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles;
(3) Red alone or "Stop":
(A) Vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until green or "Go" is shown alone. A right turn on a red signal shall be permitted at all intersections within the state; provided, that the prospective turning car shall come to a full and complete stop before turning and that the turning car shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and cross traffic traveling in accordance with their traffic signal. However, such turn will not endanger other traffic lawfully using the intersection. A right turn on red shall be permitted at all intersections, except those that are clearly marked by a "No Turns On Red" sign, which may be erected by the responsible municipal or county governments at intersections which they decide require no right turns on red in the interest of traffic safety;
(B) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless such entry can be made safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic; and
(C) A left turn on a red or stop signal shall be permitted at all intersections within the state where a one-way street intersects with another one-way street moving in the same direction into which the left turn would be made from the original one-way street. Before making such a turn, the prospective turning car shall come to a full and complete stop and shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and cross traffic traveling in accordance with the traffic signal so as not to endanger traffic lawfully using the intersection. A left turn on red shall be permitted at any applicable intersection except that clearly marked by a "No Turn on Red" sign, which may be erected by the responsible municipal or county governments at intersections which such governments decide require no left turns on red in the interest of traffic safety;
(4) Red with green arrow:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing such signal may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within a crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection; and
(B) No pedestrian facing such signal shall enter the roadway unless such entry can be made safely and without interfering with any vehicular traffic;
(5) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal;
(6) The operator of any streetcar shall obey the above signals as applicable to vehicles;
(7) All electric highway, street and road vehicular traffic-control signals in Tennessee shall have a uniform arrangement of the colored lenses in the various signal faces of such signals, as follows: In each signal face, all red lenses in vertical signals shall be located above all yellow and green lenses, and in horizontal signals, to the left of all yellow and green lenses. Yellow lenses shall be located between any red lens or lenses and all other lenses; and
(8) Whenever in this state three-light traffic-control signals are used displaying successively green, yellow, and red lights for the direction of motorists and pedestrians, the minimum time exposure of the yellow light shall be three (3) seconds. Any state agency or any political subdivision of the state that installs, owns, operates, or maintains any such traffic-control signal light shall set or cause to be set the timing-control device for any such signal light in compliance with this subdivision.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the driver of a motorcycle approaching an intersection that is controlled by a traffic-control signal utilizing a vehicle detection device that is inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle shall come to a full and complete stop at the intersection and, after exercising due care as provided by law, may proceed with due caution when it is safe to do so. It is not a defense to a violation of § 55-8-109 that the driver of a motorcycle proceeded under the belief that a traffic-control signal utilized a vehicle detection device or was inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle when such signal did not utilize a vehicle detection device or that any such device was not in fact inoperative due to the size of the motorcycle.