Tennessee Traffic Violations

Traffic violations in Tennessee are offenses that violate any part of the state's Vehicle Code or local traffic laws. In Tennessee, these violations are categorized into moving and non-moving violations. Minor moving violations are usually dealt with in municipal or general sessions courts.

Serious violations like reckless driving, DUI (driving under the influence), and leaving the scene of an accident are criminal offenses. These offenses can lead to jail time, long license suspensions, and high fines.

What Is Considered a Traffic Violation in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, a traffic violation refers to breaking any provision of the state's Vehicle Code or a local traffic ordinance, or both. Minor offenses like speeding or failing to use turn signals are treated as non-felonies and are managed in local courts.

More serious offenses, such as reckless driving and DUI, are classified as criminal offenses. The consequences for traffic violations in Tennessee can include fines, points added to your driving record, and possible license suspension.

For more severe violations, penalties may involve jail time, especially for repeat offenders or situations like driving with a suspended license. Tennessee has a driver-improvement points system.

If drivers accumulate 12 or more points within a year, they risk suspension. However, the state gives drivers the option to take a defensive-driving course to avoid or lessen the suspension.

Types of Traffic Violations in Tennessee

There are many kinds of traffic violations in Tennessee, including:

• Speeding/too fast for conditions. In Tennessee, it's against the law for anyone to drive a motor vehicle on any highway or public road at speeds over sixty-five miles per hour (65 mph). If someone is caught doing this, they will receive points on their driving record and have to pay a fine. The exact penalty and points depend on how fast they were going and the situation surrounding the violation.
• Running a red light or stop sign/disobeying devices. These types of violations are considered minor moving violations. General sessions courts handle these traffic violations. Possible penalties include fines and points added to your driving record.
• Driving without a license / driving on a suspended license. Driving without a license in Tennessee is considered a Class C misdemeanor, which can lead to a maximum fine of $50 and/or up to 30 days in jail. Other repercussions may include higher insurance rates, having your vehicle impounded, and extended periods during which you can't get a license.
• Driving without insurance (financial responsibility).Tennessee mandates a minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25. Anyone who does not have the minimum coverage could face citations and other administrative issues. (Note that the minimum for property damage increased from $15k to $25k in 2023).
• Reckless driving. This is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, which can lead to a fine of up to $500 and/or a jail term of up to 6 months.
• Distracted driving (Hands-Free TN).According to §55-8-199, it is illegal to hold a phone or support any device with your body while driving. You can only interact with it using one tap if it is mounted. New laws (the Eddie Conrad Act, 2024) have set specific point penalties for hands-free violations and have increased penalties for minors, including seven points for a second or subsequent offense if under 18.
• DUI. In Tennessee, DUI is a serious criminal offense with mandatory minimum penalties. This can lead to hefty fines, jail time, and lengthy suspensions, especially if the driver has previous convictions.

Traffic Violation Penalties in Tennessee

Points & proposed suspensions. The Driver Improvement program from the state's Department of Safety sends a notice of proposed suspension to drivers who accumulate 12 or more points within a year. If you do not ask for a hearing, your license will be suspended for 6 to 12 months.

However, if you do request a hearing, you might be given the option to take an 8-hour defensive-driving class instead of facing suspension. The department reviews the last 24 months to check how many points you have gathered.

Point relief (speeding-only). Separately, you can remove up to 5 points from a speeding ticket by finishing a state-approved 4-hour course within 90 days of getting the ticket (only one speeding case can be addressed every 4 years). The speeding conviction will still be on your record.

Distracted-driving penalties. Violating §55-8-199 results in fines that usually range from $50 to $200, depending on the area and the recency of the violation. According to the Eddie Conrad Act, points will be added to your record. These points contribute to the 12-point suspension limit.

DUI exposure (first offense). You could face 48 hours to nearly 11 months in jail (with a minimum of 7 days if your BAC is 0.20 or higher). In addition, you would be required to pay fines ranging from $350 to $1,500, and a 1-year license revocation. Penalties increase with prior offenses, high BAC levels, refusals, and other aggravating circumstances.

How to Search for Traffic Violation Records in Tennessee

A) Court tickets and dockets (trial courts). Tennessee does not have a unified statewide trial-court search for every county. Instead, check the county clerk/court portal where the ticket was filed:

• Nashville/Davidson County: The CaseLink and Traffic & General Sessions pages offer online access to cases and payment options.
• Shelby County (Memphis): The General Sessions Criminal Justice System Portal (registration needed) and the related "Case Inquiries" pages provide information on traffic, misdemeanors, calendars, and payments.
• Many other counties have "tncrtinfo.com" portals or public inquiry sites for checking criminal and traffic dockets.

B) Your official driving record (MVR). Order your Motor Vehicle Record from the Department of Safety & Homeland Security:

• Online (non-certified): via e-services; fee $5 (print/save immediately).
• By mail (certified): Send a request with $5 to TDOSHS, including name, DOB, license number, and mailing address (see agency instructions).Tennessee State Government+1

What you’ll typically see.

• Court portals: citation/case number, statute, settings, disposition, and financials.
• MVR: convictions within the print window, suspensions/revocations, and point/driver-control entries recorded by the state.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Record in Tennessee?

The state looks at a 12-month accumulation to decide if a suspension is appropriate. Courts and insurance companies usually consider two years as the time frame during which points are significant before they are no longer included in regular rating or suspension calculations.

Tennessee provides a 3 to 10-year record for $5 (sent certified by mail). Some convictions (like DUI) have mandatory revocation periods and other consequences that last longer than three years, even if the information available to consumers is limited.

Completing a 4-hour course can reduce up to 5 points from one speeding conviction (this can be done once every four years), but it does not erase the conviction itself. For a higher risk of suspension (12 or more points), an 8-hour class is often available at a hearing as an option to lessen the penalty.