Traffic Tickets in Tennessee

SUMMARY: Tennessee Traffic Tickets

In Tennessee, traffic tickets can usually be paid online, by mail, or in person. Refer to your traffic ticket to find out about your court appearance date, fine amounts, and traffic ticket payment instructions. To fight your traffic ticket, you'll likely need to appear in court.

For more information about traffic tickets in Tennessee, continue reading this page.

Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties

The fines, penalties, and court costs you'll pay for a TN traffic ticket will vary depending on where you received the ticket.

More severe violations can result in:

NOTE: Make sure you respond to your traffic ticket by the deadline date to avoid further penalties.

For more information, please visit our page about Ticket Fines & Penalties.

If you have any specific questions about your traffic ticket, contact the county court listed on your citation.

Driving Record Points

If you receive a traffic ticket in Tennessee, the violation will show up on your driving record. Depending on your violation, the TN Department of Safety (DOS) may also add points to your record.

If you accumulate 12 points within 12 months, your TN driver's license may be suspended.

Don't Risk a Driver's License Suspension!

You could be closer than you think to having your TN driver's license suspended. Order your driving record today to check how many points you currently have.

Pay a Traffic Ticket in Tennessee

Unless your traffic ticket states that you have a mandatory court appearance, you can pay the ticket fine any time before the due date. Refer to your ticket for specific instructions.

In Tennessee, you can generally pay your traffic ticket:

  • Online.
  • By mail.
  • In person.

Contact the traffic court in the county where you received the ticket for payment instructions.

Dismiss a Traffic Ticket or Demerit Points

Depending on your violation, completing a defensive driving course may:

  • Prevent points being added to your driving record.
  • Dismiss your traffic ticket.
  • Be mandatory.

Your eligibility depends on your driving history and whether you've taken traffic school in the past. Please visit our Defensive Driving in Tennessee page or contact the relevant traffic court for further details.

Fight a TN Traffic Ticket

To plead “not guilty" to your traffic ticket, you'll most likely need to attend your scheduled court appearance. Your traffic ticket should list instructions, or you can contact the appropriate TN traffic court directly.

For additional guidance, you may want to seek legal representation from a traffic ticket attorney.

Visit our page about Fighting Traffic Tickets to learn more.

Lost Your Traffic Ticket?

If you've lost your TN traffic ticket, contact the traffic court in the county where you received the ticket. You'll need to provide your name and driver's license number.

You should ask for the:

  • Ticket citation number.
  • Total fine amount.
  • Mandatory court appearance date, if applicable.
  • Deadlines.

Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers

As a commercial driver in Tennessee, in addition to responding to your traffic ticket, you must notify your employer within 30 days of your traffic ticket conviction. This requirement applies even if you weren't driving a commercial vehicle.

Read these pages for more information on traffic violations for TN commercial drivers:

Tennessee Traffic Tickets: FAQs

If you have further questions, visit our Traffic Ticket FAQ page for more information about topics about:

  • Hiring a traffic ticket attorney.
  • Removing points from your driving record.
  • Receiving a traffic ticket on a provisional driver's license.
  • Responding to a traffic ticket.
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