Knoxville DUI Lawyer Steve Oberman
DUI Defense
Criminal Defense
Forfeitures
Traffic Violations
Personal Injury
Worker's Compensation

Tennessee Traffic Court Violations

Tennessee traffic citations, including speeding tickets and traffic tickets, may be issued instead of arresting a defendant for minor driving violations.

Speeding tickets are the most common example of traffic tickets or traffic court citations in Tennessee, and other examples include Failure to Yield, Following Too Closely, and Disregarding a Traffic Signal. A citation may also be issued for Underage Possession or Consumption of Alcohol, Simple Possession of Drugs, or other misdemeanor offenses.

Traffic tickets, speeding tickets and other traffic related citations are usually heard in either General Sessions Court or Municipal Court. The following are consequences which may occur if you are convicted of, or fail to satisfy, a traffic citation in Tennessee:

Mr. Oberman and Ms. Compher-Rice can often assist you with resolving a Tennessee traffic ticket, Tennessee speeding ticket or Tennessee traffic citation in such a way that many of these consequences may be avoided. Because the facts, law, and circumstances of each Tennessee traffic ticket case vary, it is important for persons in need of a lawyer to meet individually with counsel to obtain specific advice about traffic courts in Tennessee. The information contained on this web site regarding Tennessee traffic tickets, speeding tickets, and traffic citations is no substitute for individual legal consultation.

Why not just pay the Tennessee traffic citation?

If you mail in a Tennessee traffic ticket or speeding ticket payment, you will automatically be convicted of the traffic ticket offense and face the consequences of such conviction, such as points being applied on your driving history and increased auto insurance or car insurance coverage costs.

Out of State License

Tennessee will report all convictions for traffic citations, including speeding tickets, to your home state. Therefore, you should consult the Tennessee Department of Safety, the equivalent agency in your home state, or a local attorney to determine the exact consequences your Tennessee traffic ticket or Tennessee speeding ticket may have on the status of your driver's license. For instance, in some states, your driver's license could be suspended if you are convicted of excessive speeding (i.e. 20+ MPH over the posted speed limit).

What information will I need when contacting your law office in Knoxville, Tennessee about my traffic ticket or speeding ticket?

  • The color of the Tennessee traffic citation (this helps us determine to which traffic court you have been cited);
  • The Tennessee speeding ticket or Tennessee traffic ticket citation number (located in the upper right hand corner of the traffic citation);
  • Date of traffic citation (usually located toward the bottom of the traffic ticket or speeding ticket);
  • Traffic Court date (usually located toward bottom of the traffic ticket or speeding ticket, just below the date of the traffic citation);
  • Name of Tennessee police officer (if legible); and
  • The charges listed on Tennessee traffic ticket or citation (usually located in the middle of a speeding ticket in the narrative section).

Tennessee Traffic Ticket and Speeding Ticket Myths

My state will not find out about my traffic ticket or speeding ticket conviction received in the state of Tennessee.

False. Any Tennessee traffic conviction will be reported to your home state.

If I complete driving school, my Tennessee traffic ticket or speeding ticket citation will automatically be dismissed.

False. Tennessee traffic ticket or speeding ticket dismissals are granted on an individual basis and can only be granted by the Judge.

It's less expensive for me to just pay the traffic ticket than to hire a Tennessee traffic court lawyer or speeding ticket attorney.

False. In the long run, it is often more expensive to pay the traffic ticket because of the increase in car insurance premiums and other collateral consequences, especially in cases involving a speeding ticket.

I'm unable to appear on my court date, so my only choice is to pay the Tennessee traffic ticket or Tennessee speeding ticket citation.

False. Depending on the facts of your traffic court case, your traffic court lawyer or speeding ticket attorney may be able to waive your appearance or postpone your speeding ticket or traffic ticket case.

Tennessee Department of Safety 

Traffic Violation Points


The Tennessee Department of Safety may suspend your Tennessee driver's license if you accumulate twelve (12) or more points within a one (1) year period. If you are a Tennessee licensee, you are entitled to a hearing before your driver's license is suspended; however, you must request a hearing within a specified period of time. Mr. Oberman or Ms. Compher-Rice can often assist you in avoiding Tennessee traffic court driver's license suspension; however, to ensure the best possible result, you should contact our law office in Knoxville, Tennessee immediately. For more information on Tennessee driver's license suspension, visit the Tennessee Department of Safety web site.

Tennessee Speeding Tickets
Speed not Indicated 3
Speeding 1-5 MPH over the speed limit
1
Speeding 6-15 MPH over the speed limit
3
Speeding 16-25 MPH over the speed limit
4
Speeding 26-35 MPH over the speed limit
5
Speeding 36-45 MPH over the speed limit
6
Speeding 46+ over limit
8
Speed Less than Posted Minimum
3

Tennessee Speeding Tickets in Construction Zone
Speed not Indicated
3
1-5 MPH over speed limit
2
6-15 MPH over speed limit
6
16-35 MPH over speed limit
7
36+ MPH over speed limit
8

Tennessee Speeding Tickets in a Commercial Motor Vehicle
Speed not Indicated
4
Speeding 1-5 MPH over speed limit
2
Speeding 6-14 MPH over speed limit
3
Speeding 15-25 MPH over speed limit
4
Speeding 26-35 MPH over speed limit
5
Speeding 36+ MPH over speed limit
6
Construction - No Speed Indicated
4
Construction - 1-5 MPH over speed limit
2
Construction - 6-14 MPH over speed limit
5

Contributing to Occurrence of Accidents in Tennessee
Property Damage Only
3
Bodily Injury
4
Resulting in Another's Death
8

Other Point Assignments for Traffic Tickets in Tennessee
Reckless Driving
6
Reckless Endangerment
8
Improper Passing
4
Failure to Obey Traffic Signal
4
Driving Wrong Way
4
Following Too Closely
3
Failure to Yield
4
Improper Turn
3
Failure to Signal
2
Careless or Negligent Driving
4
Violation of License Restrictions
6
Miscellaneous Tennessee Traffic Violations
3
Driving While License Cancelled
8

The Oberman Law Firm
550 Main St. Suite 730
Knoxville, Tennessee TN 37902
Phone: (865) 249-7200
Fax: (865) 540-1696
Email: info@tndui.com

Copyright © 2002-2008 The Oberman Law Firm. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of this content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Steven Oberman.

DISCLAIMER: Any contact through this web site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Until an attorney-client relationship is agreed to by Mr. Oberman, you are not a client. Do not send any communication which you expect to be kept confidential, and you are hereby advised that any information that you do send may not be held confidential.

The determination of the need for legal help, legal services and the choice of a lawyer are extremely important decisions and should not be based solely upon advertisements, certification, specialization or self-proclaimed expertise. Potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered.

Steve Oberman is certified as a DUI Defense Specialist by the Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and The National College for DUI Defense, Inc.

Tennessee DUI Attorney Steve Oberman shall not be liable for any errors in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Most of the beautiful photographs of the Knoxville area exhibited on this site are provided through the courtesy of and with the permission of acclaimed photographer Gary Heatherly. Mr. Heatherly retains all intellectual rights to his photographs. Mr. Heatherly may be contacted at Gary Heatherly's Photography.

The Oberman Law Firm 550 Main St. Suite 730, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902
Office: (865) 249-7200 Fax: (865) 540-1696 E-mail: info@tndui.com

valid HTML | valid CSS