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Lost Traffic Ticket in Tennessee
Determine Where You Were Ticketed
You need to contact the court that was listed on your lost citation. This means, you need to place the town or county where you were ticketed.
Once you've pinpointed the general area, call either the Municipal Court or the county's General Sessions Court.
If you're unsure of which court to call, try remembering the citing law enforcement agency. If you were ticketed by the Sheriff's Department or the Tennessee Highway Patrol, call the General Sessions Court. Otherwise, contact the Municipal Court.
When You Call the Court
Talk with the court clerk. In most situations the clerk will be able to locate your case based on name. For just-in-case purposes, have your driver's license number at the ready. The clerk will explain how to proceed with entering your plea.
Determine How You Will Plead
Enter one of the following three pleas:
Don't hesitate. Act fast. You need to submit a plea before the traffic ticket's compliance date. The court will not accept "I lost my ticket..." as an excuse for not entering a plea within your designated time frame.
Failing to respond may lead to the suspension of your TN driver's license and a possible bench warrant for your arrest.
Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)- Pay the fine.
- Pay the Driver Responsibility Program (if applicable).
- Incur points on your driving record (which could lead to license suspension or revocation).
- Experience an increase in auto insurance rates.
- Get ticket dismissed by completing a defensive driving class.
Learn more about
Paying Your Traffic Ticket.Fight Ticket
(Plead Not Guilty)- Contest the ticket during a hearing.
- Represent yourself or, depending on the nature of the ticket, hire an attorney to represent you.
- Possibly lose the option for a plea bargain involving lesser penalties.
- Experience no penalties if found not guilty (except any applicable court/attorney fees).
- Appeal the guilty verdict (if applicable).
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