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Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The penalties for reckless driving in Tennessee can include a Class B misdemeanor, possible jail time, fines, court costs, and 6 demerit points, and a driving course may help only if the court orders it or accepts it as part of your case. Under Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-205, reckless driving means driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, which is more serious than a standard Tennessee traffic ticket. Tennessee drivers should also know that 6 points can move you close to the 12-point level that

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte If you miss the deadline to complete a court-ordered defensive driving course in Tennessee, the court may treat you as out of compliance and can enter judgment on the traffic ticket, assess fines and costs, and in some cases report results that affect your driving record or license status. In some Tennessee courts, a missed class date can lead to a failure to comply finding, and the original chance for ticket dismissal or point reduction may no longer apply unless the court allows a late filing, extension, or new class date. Because

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte No, reckless driving is usually not a felony in Tennessee: it is generally a Class B misdemeanor under Tennessee law. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-205, the offense means driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. A reckless driving charge can still carry jail time, fines, court costs, and 6 demerit points on your Tennessee record through the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. This article covers Tennessee requirements only. Key Facts # The short answer is simple: standard reckless driving in Tennessee is not

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte Yes, you can take a Tennessee defensive driving course online in some cases, but some Tennessee courts still require a classroom course, so you must check with your specific court before you enroll. In Tennessee, online courses are often used for a 4-hour course tied to a court order or a speeding case, while an 8-hour course may be used in certain TDOSHS near-suspension situations if the notice allows it. A valid online provider should match the requirement from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) or your court, track

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte You can take a Tennessee defensive driving course more than once, but how often it counts for a benefit depends on why you are taking it and who required it. For a 4-hour state-approved course used for point removal after a speeding conviction, Tennessee limits that use to one speeding conviction in a 4-year period, and you must finish within 90 days of the conviction. For court-ordered ticket diversion or a TDOSHS 8-hour course tied to an administrative hearing, the rules can be different, so you should always check your court order,

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte A Tennessee speeding ticket adds 1 to 8 demerit points to your driving record, based on how many miles per hour you were over the limit. Under the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) point schedule, 1–5 mph over adds 1 point, while 46+ mph over adds 8 points, so one fast ticket can move you close to the 12-point threshold for a proposed suspension. If you reach 12 or more points within 12 months, TDOSHS can send a notice of proposed suspension, and some drivers may be allowed to

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte A Tennessee speeding ticket’s demerit points stay on your driving record for 2 years from the violation date, but the conviction itself can stay visible longer, often around 5 years or more depending on the offense. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, or TDOSHS, uses those points for actions like warnings, hearings, and possible suspension when your points accumulation gets too high. Insurance companies may still look back beyond that 2-year point window, and in some cases a court may allow driving school so a conviction does not appear at

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte The Tennessee defensive driving course usually takes 4 hours or 8 hours, depending on what your court order or Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security notice requires. A 4-hour course is common for some court-ordered traffic cases, while an 8-hour course is often used when TDOSHS requires a class in a near-suspension situation. In Tennessee, the required length is set by the court or TDOSHS, not by your choice, and online providers must use timing rules so you cannot finish faster than the approved course length. This article covers Tennessee requirements

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte Tennessee demerit points stay on your driving record for 2 years from the violation date. But for license suspension review, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) mainly looks at your points accumulation in the past 12 months, so older points may still show on your record without counting toward the 12-point threshold. Adult drivers can face a notice of proposed suspension at 12 points in 12 months, while some drivers near suspension may be able to complete an 8-hour TDOSHS-approved defensive driving course within the required time frame. This

Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte If you do not show up to court for your Tennessee traffic ticket, the court can treat it as a failure to appear, enter a judgment against you, add fines and costs, suspend your license, and in some cases issue a bench warrant. In Tennessee traffic cases, missing court is often treated as a separate problem from the original ticket, so the case usually does not just go away because you stayed home. The Clerk of Court may report the failure to appear to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security,