What Is Considered Reckless Driving in TN? TCA 55-10-205

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you searched what is considered reckless driving in tn, TCA 55-10-205 answers it: driving “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” is reckless driving. The same law names two specific acts, a motorcycle ridden with the front tire off the ground and a vehicle driven past a flood warning into a flooded road. It is a Class B misdemeanor with 6 points for a car driver, and the law sets no mph number.

Key Facts

The core test: driving “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” See the legal definition.
Three forms: any vehicle, a motorcycle wheelie, and driving into a flooded road past a warning. See the three forms.
No mph number: only a school-zone rule ties a speed to reckless driving. See speed and the statute.
Penalty class: a Class B misdemeanor plus a $50 fine the court must add, and 6 points in a car. See penalties and points.
Not the same as careless driving: careless driving is a Class C misdemeanor with 4 points. See reckless vs careless.

What Is Considered Reckless Driving in TN Under the Law

Tennessee defines reckless driving in one statute, TCA 55-10-205. Under subsection (a), a person “commits reckless driving” by driving any vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

The definition does not list examples. It names no speed, maneuver or place. It sets a standard, and the court applies it to the facts of each case.

A few plain points follow from the text itself:

Any vehicle counts. The words “any vehicle” are not limited to cars.
People or property. The disregard can be for the safety of persons or of property.
The officer does not decide guilt. A ticket is a charge. A conviction comes from the court, or from paying the ticket.

Under TCA 55-50-102(16), “the payment of a fine or court cost” counts as a conviction. So paying a reckless driving citation is a conviction too.

The Three Forms of Reckless Driving in TCA 55-10-205

The statute reaches three kinds of conduct. Each one is reckless driving on its own terms.

Driving Any Vehicle With Willful or Wanton Disregard

This is the general rule in subsection (a). It covers any vehicle. The test is the driver’s disregard for the safety of people or property, as the court finds it.

Riding a Motorcycle With the Front Tire Off the Ground

Subsection (b) covers a motorcycle ridden with the front tire raised off the ground. It counts as reckless driving when it is done in willful and wanton disregard for safety.

Driving Past a Flood Warning Into a Flooded Road

Subsection (c) covers a driver who knowingly ignores a “clearly visible and adequate flood warning sign or barricade.” The driver must then drive into a road area that is actually flooded.

The court may also order the driver to pay back the cost of a rescue. Emergency vehicles are excluded from this subsection.

What TCA 55-10-205 covers, from the general willful or wanton test to the motorcycle and flooded road rules

Speed and the Statute: No Set Number

TCA 55-10-205 does not say that driving a certain number of mph over the limit is reckless. No Tennessee statute or TDOSHS page we read gives a reckless driving speed.

There is one related rule in a different law, TCA 55-8-152(d). It applies where a county or city has not set its own school-zone limit. There, driving over 15 mph past a school at set times is “prima facie” reckless driving.

The set times are a recess with flashers on, or set periods around the school day while children are arriving or leaving.

Outside that rule, the law ties no speed to reckless driving. Whether driving was reckless depends on the facts the court finds. Our guide to reckless driving and speed covers the school-zone rule and speeding points in detail.

Reckless Driving Penalties and Points

Reckless driving is a crime with a set class. Subsection (d)(1) says a violation “is a Class B misdemeanor.”

Under TCA 40-35-111, a Class B misdemeanor carries up to 6 months in jail, up to a $500 fine, or both. Subsection (d)(2) adds that “the court shall assess a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)” on top of that. Court costs are set by each court.

The statute itself does not assign points. Points come from the TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values:

Reckless driving in a car: 6 points.
Reckless driving in a commercial vehicle: 7 points.
In a commercial construction zone or while hauling hazardous materials: 8 points.

The statute has no first-offense tier and no injury tier. Every violation is a Class B misdemeanor. For more on sentencing and what a court can order, read our guide to reckless driving penalties.

Reckless Driving vs Careless Driving

Careless driving is a different offense in a different law. TCA 55-8-136 says “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care by operating the vehicle at a safe speed.” A driver who fails that duty can be charged with careless driving.

The two charges differ in class and points. Here is how they line up with the aggravated offense:

Charge	Law	Key element	Class
Careless or negligent driving	TCA 55-8-136	A failure of due care	Class C misdemeanor
Reckless driving	TCA 55-10-205	Willful or wanton disregard	Class B misdemeanor
Aggravated reckless driving	TCA 55-10-209	Reckless driving plus impeding traffic	Class A misdemeanor

Careless driving is still a crime. A Class C misdemeanor carries up to 30 days in jail, up to a $50 fine, or both. The careless and negligent line on the Schedule is 4 points.

Aggravated Reckless Driving

TCA 55-10-209 creates a separate, more serious offense. Since July 1, 2022, a person commits aggravated reckless driving by doing two things:

committing reckless driving as defined in TCA 55-10-205, and
intentionally or knowingly impeding traffic on a public street, highway, alley, parking lot or driveway.

It is a Class A misdemeanor, and the court may assess a $2,500 fine. The added element is impeding traffic.

It is not about injury. Our article on whether reckless driving is a felony explains which separate crimes are felonies.

Five steps from a reckless driving citation to points on a Tennessee driving record

How a Reckless Driving Conviction Affects Your Point Total

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) adds the points after a conviction. Its Driver Improvement (Points Accumulation) page explains what happens as points build.

For adults, the levels work like this:

6 to 11 points in one year: an advisory letter.
12 or more points in any 12-month period: a notice of proposed suspension and a chance at an administrative hearing.

The notice is not an automatic suspension. Drivers under 18 reach the program at 6 points in 12 months. One reckless driving conviction gets there alone.

Simple math shows how fast the total can climb. A reckless driving conviction (6) plus a 6-15 mph speeding ticket (3) totals 9 points. Two reckless driving convictions total 12.

Can a Course Help With a Reckless Driving Charge?

Tennessee has two kinds of driver courses, and neither one changes what reckless driving is. The 4-hour Driver Education Course is used when a court orders a course and for speeding point removal. The 8-hour TDOSHS Driver Improvement defensive driving class comes after a notice of proposed suspension.

The speeding rule does not reach reckless driving. TCA 55-8-207 removes the points for one speeding conviction, up to 5.

The course must be department-approved and finished within 90 days of the conviction, once in a four-year period. The conviction stays, and the rule covers speeding only.

A court may still order a course in a reckless driving case. TCA 55-10-301(b)(1) lets a court require one “in addition to or in lieu of any portion of other penalty imposed” by the court.

What that means is up to the court. No Tennessee law says a course dismisses a ticket.

The TDOSHS Court Ordered Traffic Schools page adds a warning. It says “prior to registering for an online course, please confirm that the course will be accepted by the court.” The court course option does not apply to Class A, B or C license holders or to anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle (TCA 55-10-301(c)-(d)).

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the TDOSHS pages we checked on October 27, 2026, the Schedule’s values matched the ones given above. Three details stood out.

First, the Schedule of Points Values was last updated on August 12, 2025. It lists “Reckless Driving” at 6 points and a separate line, “Reckless endangerment by vehicle (misdemeanor),” at 8 points. Those are two different offenses.

Second, the Schedule lists “Careless or negligent driving” at 4 points. Careless driving is 4 points, below reckless driving’s 6.

Third, the Remove Speeding Points page speaks only of a speeding conviction. It adds, “Only the points will be removed, the conviction will remain.”

Common Mistakes About the Definition

Each point below is checked against a Tennessee statute or TDOSHS page:

Looking for a speed number. TCA 55-10-205 has none. The only speed rule is the school-zone rule in TCA 55-8-152(d).
Calling careless driving the same thing. Careless driving is TCA 55-8-136, a Class C misdemeanor with 4 points.
Thinking injury raises the class. The reckless driving statute has no injury tier.
Mixing up the aggravated offense. Aggravated reckless driving adds impeding traffic, not injury.
Expecting the speeding course to cover it. TCA 55-8-207 covers speeding convictions only.
Treating payment as neutral. Paying the fine counts as a conviction under TCA 55-50-102(16).

For your own case, contact the clerk of the court on your citation, or talk with a Tennessee attorney. The Tennessee State Courts site has general court information.

How Requirements Can Vary

Tennessee point values, the Driver Improvement Program and the speeding point-removal rule come from state law and TDOSHS rules (TCA 55-50-505, TCA 55-8-207 and Rule 1340-01-04) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders a course for your ticket, which course it orders, and how your case is handled are up to the court on your ticket or the TDOSHS letter you received. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.

Laws, rules and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order or TDOSHS letter, the TDOSHS website and the Tennessee Code before you enroll or pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal definition of reckless driving in Tennessee?

It is driving any vehicle “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” (TCA 55-10-205(a)). The statute also covers a motorcycle wheelie and driving into a flooded road past a warning sign or barricade.

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Tennessee?

Yes. It is a Class B misdemeanor, with up to 6 months in jail, up to a $500 fine, or both. The court must also add a $50 fine.

How many points is reckless driving in Tennessee?

The TDOSHS Schedule of Points Values lists reckless driving at 6 points in a car. It is 7 in a commercial vehicle, and 8 in a commercial construction zone or while hauling hazardous materials.

Is there a speed that counts as reckless driving?

The reckless driving statute has no mph number. The only speed rule is the school-zone rule in TCA 55-8-152(d). Where no local limit is set, over 15 mph past a school at set times is “prima facie” reckless driving.

What is the difference between reckless and careless driving?

Reckless driving needs “willful or wanton disregard” for safety and is a Class B misdemeanor with 6 points. Careless driving is a failure of due care under TCA 55-8-136. It is a Class C misdemeanor with 4 points.

What is aggravated reckless driving?

It is reckless driving plus intentionally or knowingly impeding traffic (TCA 55-10-209). It is a Class A misdemeanor, and the court may assess a $2,500 fine.

Can a driver course remove reckless driving points?

No. TCA 55-8-207 removes points only for one speeding conviction. A court may order a course in a reckless driving case, but that is up to the court.

Conclusion

Reckless driving in Tennessee rests on one standard, “willful or wanton disregard,” plus two named acts for motorcycles and flooded roads. It is a Class B misdemeanor with a $50 fine the court must add and 6 points in a car.

If your court orders a driver education course, confirm that it will accept an online course. If you have a separate speeding conviction, check the TDOSHS 4-hour list, then take the Tennessee Driver Education Course online.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, an online driver education course provider serving Tennessee and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Tennessee course rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court, TDOSHS notice and case facts, and they can change. Use official TDOSHS, Tennessee Code and court sources, and consult a qualified Tennessee attorney for advice about your own case.