Tennessee Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Racing (2026)

Tennessee makes reckless driving a Class B misdemeanor under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 55-10-205, punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, plus a mandatory $50 fine and a $30 additional fine. Since July 1, 2022, reckless driving that intentionally or knowingly impedes traffic is the Class A misdemeanor of aggravated reckless driving, and since July 1, 2024, drag racing is a Class E felony; a reckless driving conviction adds 6 points under the Department of Safety point rule.

Information last verified on 2026-10-25. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Tennessee state statutes on reckless driving (Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-205), aggravated reckless driving, the school-zone speed rule, drag racing, evading arrest in a vehicle, the Department of Safety point system and license consequences in Title 55, Chapter 50, and driving without a valid license. It does not cover DUI penalties (see Tennessee DUI laws), vehicular homicide (see Tennessee manslaughter laws), leaving the scene of a crash (see Tennessee hit-and-run laws), city or county ordinances, or federal and commercial-driver rules beyond a short note. For other states, see reckless driving laws by state.

What is reckless driving in Tennessee?

Section 55-10-205(a) defines the offense in one sentence:

"(a) Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property commits reckless driving." Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-205(a)

The offense has two parts: driving a vehicle, and doing it in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. The section then names two specific forms of reckless driving.

• Wheelies. Under Section 55-10-205(b), a person commits reckless driving who "drives a motorcycle with the front tire raised off the ground in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property" on any public street, highway, alley, parking lot or driveway, or on the premises of a shopping center, trailer park, apartment complex or "any other premises that are generally frequented by the public at large." The subsection does not apply to persons 18 or older "riding in a parade, at a speed not to exceed thirty miles per hour (30 mph)."
• Driving into a flooded road. Under Section 55-10-205(c)(1), "Any motor vehicle operator who knowingly ignores a clearly visible and adequate flood warning sign or barricade and drives into a road area that is actually flooded commits reckless driving." The court may also order restitution for the cost of any rescue, Section 55-10-205(c)(2) provides an affirmative defense where driving through the barricade "was necessitated by a bona fide emergency," and subsection (c) does not apply to emergency vehicles.

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Tennessee? Penalties

Yes. Section 55-10-205(d)(1) provides that "A violation of this section is a Class B misdemeanor." Under Section 40-35-111(e)(2), a Class B misdemeanor is punishable by "not greater than six (6) months or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute."

Two additional fines apply on top of that range:

• $50 fine. Section 55-10-205(d)(2): "In addition to the penalty authorized by subdivision (d)(1), the court shall assess a fine of fifty dollars ($50.00)," collected and distributed under Section 55-10-412.
• $30 brain-injury fund fine. Section 68-55-302 imposes, "in addition to any other fines imposed by § 55-10-205, for reckless driving of a motor vehicle," an "additional fine of thirty dollars ($30.00) for each such violation," paid into the traumatic brain injury fund.

Section 55-10-205 has no repeat-offense tier, no injury tier and no felony form. The license consequences of repeat convictions are covered below.

Aggravated reckless driving (offenses on or after July 1, 2022)

Public Chapter 1022 of 2022 added a separate offense to Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 2. Under Section 1(a) of the act, a person commits aggravated reckless driving who:

"(1) Commits the offense of reckless driving, as defined in § 55-10-205; and (2) Intentionally or knowingly impedes traffic upon a public street, highway, alley, parking lot, or driveway, or on the premises of a shopping center, trailer park, apartment house complex, or any other premises accessible to motor vehicles that are generally frequented by the public at large."

Both parts are required. Aggravated reckless driving is a Class A misdemeanor, and "the court may assess a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)" in addition (Pub. Ch. 1022, sec. 1(b)). Under Section 40-35-111(e)(1), a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 11 months, 29 days, a fine of up to $2,500, or both, unless otherwise provided by statute. The act "takes effect July 1, 2022, the public welfare requiring it, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date" (sec. 4).

Reckless endangerment

Separately, the general offense of reckless endangerment in Section 39-13-103 covers a person who "recklessly engages in conduct that places or may place another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury." It is a Class A misdemeanor, and a Class E felony when "committed with a deadly weapon" (39-13-103(b)).

How fast is reckless driving in Tennessee?

Tennessee's speed-based reckless driving rules apply only near schools. Section 55-8-152(d)(1)(B) provides:

"(B) In any county or municipality where the local legislative body does not establish special speed limits as provided for above, any person who shall drive at a speed exceeding fifteen miles per hour (15 mph) when passing a school during a recess period when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, or during a period of ninety (90) minutes before the opening hour of a school or a period of ninety (90) minutes after the closing hour of a school, while children are actually going to or leaving school, shall be prima facie guilty of reckless driving."

Three limits matter. The rule applies only where the local government has not set its own special school-zone limit; it covers only the recess and before-and-after-school periods the subsection describes; and it makes the driver "prima facie" guilty, which is evidence of reckless driving rather than a separate offense. Section 55-8-152(d)(2) sets a similar rule for counties in certain population brackets, where the before-and-after-school window is 40 minutes.

Outside school zones, no section of the speed statutes in Title 55, Chapter 8 makes a set number of miles per hour over the limit reckless driving. Section 55-8-152 sets the statewide maximums: 65 mph on highways and public roads generally (55-8-152(a)), and 70 mph on controlled-access highways of four or more lanes on the state or interstate highway systems (55-8-152(c)). Ordinary speeding falls under the default penalty in Section 55-10-301(a): a violation of Chapters 8 and 9 of Title 55 or Parts 1 through 5 of Chapter 10 "where a penalty is not specifically prescribed commits a Class C misdemeanor."

Removing speeding points with a course

Public Chapter 710 of 2022 (effective July 1, 2022) provides that a person "charged with speeding and subsequently convicted" who completes a department-approved defensive driving course "within ninety (90) days of the conviction shall have the points charged to the person's driving record for the speeding conviction removed," up to five points, for one speeding offense per course and "only once in a four-year period." Public Chapter 993 of 2026 (effective July 1, 2026) allows a person charged with speeding to register for a department-approved driver education course that must be available online, with the same five-point removal rule. These rules cover speeding convictions; they do not mention reckless driving.

Reckless driving points and license suspension in Tennessee

Points. Section 55-50-505(a)(1)(A) authorizes the Department of Safety to "assign a point value according to the seriousness of the accident or moving traffic violation conviction." The values are set by Department rule 1340-01-04-.03, which assigns:

• reckless driving: 6 points (non-commercial schedule);
• careless or negligent driving: 4 points (non-commercial schedule);
• reckless driving: 7 points, and careless or negligent driving: 5 points, on the rule's commercial schedule;
• reckless driving: 8 points, and careless or negligent driving: 6 points, on its schedule for commercial vehicles hauling hazardous material.

Point suspensions. Under rule 1340-01-04-.04, which applies these thresholds to drivers 18 or older, a driver who accumulates six or more but fewer than 12 points within one year receives an advisory letter, and when a driver "has accumulated twelve (12) or more points within a one (1) year period, the Department shall issue a notice of proposed suspension" and the driver must appear at an administrative hearing to contest it. For drivers under 18, the Department sends a notice of proposed suspension at 6 or more points within 12 months and places the driver in the Driver Improvement Program. Section 55-50-505(a)(1)(B) provides that the person may request a hearing on whether the suspension is proper.

Mandatory revocation for two reckless convictions. Section 55-50-501(a) provides that the Department "shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving a record of the operator's or chauffeur's conviction" of listed offenses once the conviction is final, including "(6) Conviction, or forfeiture of bail not vacated, upon two (2) charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve (12) months."

Habitually reckless driver. Section 55-50-502(a)(1)(D) lists being "an habitually reckless or negligent driver of a motor vehicle" among the grounds for suspension in that section.

No habitual offender statute. Public Chapter 486 of 2019 deleted Tennessee's Motor Vehicle Habitual Offenders Act (Title 55, Chapter 10, Part 6) and replaced it with a provision letting a person whose license was "revoked or restricted due solely to the person's status as a motor vehicle habitual offender prior to July 1, 2019" petition the court that made the finding for reinstatement.

Commercial driver's licenses

Section 55-50-102 defines a "serious traffic violation" to include "Reckless, careless or negligent driving, as defined under § 55-10-205" and excessive speeding as defined by regulation. Under Section 55-50-405(a)(5), the commissioner "shall suspend for a period of not less than sixty (60) days each person who in a three-year period has committed two (2) serious traffic violations involving a commercial motor vehicle, and for not less than one hundred twenty (120) days each person who has committed three (3) serious traffic violations in a three-year period." Federal rule 49 C.F.R. 383.51 (Table 2) also counts serious traffic violations in a non-commercial vehicle, but only if the conviction results in a revocation, cancellation or suspension of the license or non-commercial driving privileges; the reckless driving laws by state hub covers the federal layer.

Is there a careless driving law in Tennessee?

No Tennessee statute is named careless driving. The point rule lists "careless or negligent driving" at 4 points, and the Code section closest to that idea is the due-care requirement in Section 55-8-136(b):

"(b) Notwithstanding any speed limit or zone in effect at the time, or right-of-way rules that may be applicable, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care by operating the vehicle at a safe speed, by maintaining a safe lookout, by keeping the vehicle under proper control and by devoting full time and attention to operating the vehicle, under the existing circumstances as necessary in order to be able to see and to avoid endangering life, limb or property and to see and avoid colliding with any other vehicle or person, or any road sign, guard rail or any fixed object either legally using or legally parked or legally placed, upon any roadway, within or beside the roadway right-of-way including, but not limited to, any adjacent sidewalk, bicycle lane, shoulder or berm."

A violation of Section 55-8-136 is a Class C misdemeanor (55-8-136(c)), punishable under Section 40-35-111(e)(3) by "not greater than thirty (30) days or a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), or both, unless otherwise provided by statute." The difference from reckless driving is the mental state: due care is a duty of attention and control, while Section 55-10-205 requires willful or wanton disregard for safety. Tennessee has no statute named aggressive driving.

Drag racing in Tennessee

Section 55-10-502(a) makes drag racing a Class E felony. Public Chapter 1000 of 2024 amended that subsection by replacing the words "Class A misdemeanor" with "Class E felony," effective July 1, 2024, and the act "applies to acts committed on or after that date." Drag racing had been made a Class A misdemeanor by Public Chapter 573 of 2021, effective July 1, 2021, so the grade depends on when the act was committed.

The offense, in the words of Section 55-10-502(a) as rewritten in 2021: "any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state, or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, any apartment house complex, or any other premises generally frequented by the public at large, or who is a participant therein, for the purpose of drag racing commits the offense of drag racing unless the premises are properly licensed for this purpose."

Section 55-10-501(2) defines a "participant" to include, besides drivers, any person who arranges for, supervises or "in any way and manner set[s] in motion any drag racing," whether or not that person is in a vehicle. Section 68-55-306(a) adds a $25 fine for each drag racing violation, paid into the traumatic brain injury fund, on top of the other drag racing fines.

Section 55-10-501(1) defines drag racing broadly. It includes using a motor vehicle to find "the maximum speed obtainable by the vehicle," or its highest speed "within a certain distance or within a certain time limit," using one or more vehicles to compare their relative speeds, using one or more vehicles "in an attempt to outgain, outdistance or to arrive at a given destination simultaneous with or prior to that of any other motor vehicle," and accepting or carrying out "any challenge, made orally, in writing, or otherwise," about the performance abilities of one or more vehicles.

Under Section 40-35-111(b)(5), a Class E felony carries "not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years," and "the jury may assess a fine not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000), unless otherwise provided by statute."

Further drag racing consequences:

• Serious bodily injury. "If the violation of subsection (a) results in the serious bodily injury of a participant, passenger, bystander or other person, drag racing shall be punished as provided in § 39-13-106(b) for vehicular assault" (55-10-502(b)).
• Forfeiture. Any motor vehicle used to commit drag racing "or to flee after commission of the offense of drag racing is, upon conviction for the offense, subject to seizure and forfeiture" under Title 40, Chapter 33, Part 1 (55-10-502(c)).
• One-year revocation. Under Section 55-10-503(a)(1), "the department shall revoke, for a period of one (1) year, the driver license of any person or persons convicted of drag racing." For a first conviction, Section 55-10-503(a)(2) gives the trial judge "the discretion to allow the continued use of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license or order the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license" on the terms Section 55-10-409 allows for a first DUI.
• Permanent revocation. Under Section 55-10-503(b), the department "shall permanently revoke the driver license" of a person convicted of drag racing "for the second time within a ten-year period."

Evading arrest in a vehicle

Section 39-16-603(b)(1) makes it unlawful, "while operating a motor vehicle on any street, road, alley or highway in this state, to intentionally flee or attempt to elude any law enforcement officer, after having received any signal from the officer to bring the vehicle to a stop," and Section 39-16-603(b)(2) provides that "It is a defense to prosecution under this subsection (b) that the attempted arrest was unlawful." Public Chapter 278 of 2021, effective July 1, 2021, placed the grading in Section 39-16-603(d): a violation of Subsection (b) "is a Class E felony and shall be punished by confinement for not less than thirty (30) days"; it is a Class D felony with confinement of not less than 60 days "If the flight or attempt to elude creates a risk of death or injury to innocent bystanders, pursuing law enforcement officers, or other third parties"; a violation that "results in serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer is a Class C felony"; and one that results in the death of a law enforcement officer "is a Class A felony." Section 39-16-603 also requires the court to order a license suspension of not less than six months nor more than two years.

Is there a wet reckless in Tennessee?

Tennessee statutes name a reckless driving conviction in an alcohol-related case in four places. None of them sets rules for how a case is resolved; they say how such a conviction counts or what fee or tax attaches to it.

• Consecutive implied-consent suspension. Under Section 55-10-407(c), the license suspension for violating the implied consent law (Section 55-10-406) runs consecutive to the suspension imposed after a DUI conviction if the judge finds the driver has a conviction or juvenile adjudication, for a violation within five years, for listed offenses, including "(D) Reckless driving under § 55-10-205, if the charged offense was § 55-10-401" (the DUI statute).
• Restricted licenses. Section 55-10-409(b)(2)(B)(iv), in the section on restricted licenses, lists the same item, "Reckless driving under § 55-10-205, if the charged offense was § 55-10-401," among the prior convictions within five years that it counts for a person who violated the implied consent law. Public Chapter 964 of 2022 added "Reckless endangerment under § 39-13-103, if the charged offense was driving under the influence under § 55-10-401" to that list.
• Blood or breath test fee. Section 55-10-413(f)(1) assesses a $250 blood alcohol or drug concentration test (BADT) fee on a conviction for listed offenses, including "reckless driving under § 55-10-205," for each offender who took a breath alcohol test on an evidential breath testing unit or submitted to a chemical test of blood or urine.
• Criminal injuries compensation tax. Section 40-24-107(a)(3) applies the criminal injuries compensation privilege tax to reckless driving under Section 55-10-205 "if the reckless driving was proximately caused by the use of an intoxicant," as it does to DUI.

For DUI penalties themselves, see Tennessee DUI laws.

Driving without a license in Tennessee

License required. Section 55-50-301(a)(1) provides that no person, except those expressly exempted, "shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven." Section 55-50-603 makes a violation of Chapter 50 "for which punishment has not been otherwise provided for in this chapter" a Class B misdemeanor.

Invalid out-of-state license. Since January 1, 2026, Public Chapter 288 of 2025 provides that an out-of-state license of a class issued by another state exclusively to persons not lawfully present is invalid in Tennessee, and operating a motor vehicle with such a license is a Class B misdemeanor. The act directs the Department to publish a list of those license classes.

License not in possession. Section 55-50-351(a) requires every licensee to have the license "in immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle" and to display it on demand of a Department officer or agent or a state, county or municipal police officer; a receipt for a license deposited as bail substitutes for it until the court date. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor (55-50-351(b)).

Driving while cancelled, suspended or revoked. Under Section 55-50-504(a)(1), driving on a public way, or on the premises of a shopping center, manufactured housing complex, apartment complex or other premises frequented by the public, while the privilege "is cancelled, suspended, or revoked" is a Class B misdemeanor. The section sets heavier terms when the suspension or revocation was "because of a conviction for vehicular assault under § 39-13-106, vehicular homicide under § 39-13-213, or driving while intoxicated under § 55-10-401":

• first such violation: "confinement for not less than two (2) days nor more than six (6) months," and a fine of up to $1,000 may be added (55-50-504(a)(1));
• a second or subsequent violation of Subdivision (a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor, and driving while suspended or revoked because of a second or later conviction for those offenses carries "confinement for not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than one (1) year," and a fine of up to $3,000 (55-50-504(a)(2)).

Convictions more than 10 years before the current violation are not counted for these enhancements. Under Section 55-50-504(g), the vehicle used is "subject to seizure and forfeiture" when the original suspension or revocation was for DUI, and "A conviction for the criminal offense of driving while the person's driving privileges are cancelled, suspended or revoked is not required." Since July 1, 2025, "Not more than four (4) points shall be assessed to a person's driver record for the offense of operating a motor vehicle while the person's driving privilege is cancelled, suspended, or revoked" (55-50-504(k), added by Public Chapter 504 of 2025).

Tennessee reckless driving and related offenses: penalty table

The class ranges come from Section 40-35-111: Class A misdemeanor "not greater than eleven (11) months, twenty-nine (29) days or a fine not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or both"; Class B "not greater than six (6) months or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or both"; Class C "not greater than thirty (30) days or a fine not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00), or both," each "unless otherwise provided by statute" (40-35-111(e)); Class D felony 2 to 12 years with a jury fine of up to $5,000, and Class E felony 1 to 6 years with a jury fine of up to $3,000 (40-35-111(b)(4)-(5)). For the full class table, see Tennessee felony and misdemeanor classes.

Vehicular homicide in Tennessee

When driving causes a death or serious injury, the governing Tennessee offenses include vehicular homicide (Section 39-13-213) and vehicular assault (Section 39-13-106), covered on the Tennessee manslaughter laws page.

Recent changes to Tennessee reckless driving and racing laws

• 2021: drag racing and evading arrest. Public Chapter 573 (effective July 1, 2021) made drag racing a Class A misdemeanor, and Public Chapter 278 (effective July 1, 2021) placed the evading-arrest grades in Section 39-16-603(d), including the Class C and Class A felony tiers for serious bodily injury to or death of a law enforcement officer.
• July 1, 2022: aggravated reckless driving. Public Chapter 1022 created aggravated reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor, for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2022.
• 2022: reckless endangerment in DUI cases and speeding points. Public Chapter 964 added reckless endangerment charged as DUI to the prior-conviction list in Section 55-10-409(b)(2)(B)(iv), and Public Chapter 710 (effective July 1, 2022) allowed removal of up to five speeding points after a defensive driving course.
• July 1, 2024: drag racing becomes a felony. Public Chapter 1000 made drag racing a Class E felony for acts committed on or after July 1, 2024.
• July 1, 2025: point cap for driving while suspended. Public Chapter 504 limited driving while suspended, cancelled or revoked to no more than four points.
• January 1, 2026: invalid out-of-state licenses. Public Chapter 288 of 2025 made operating a vehicle with an out-of-state license of a class issued exclusively to persons not lawfully present a Class B misdemeanor.
• July 1, 2026: online driver education for speeding. Public Chapter 993 provides for online department-approved driver education courses for persons charged with speeding.
• Reckless driving itself. Section 55-10-205 was last amended by 2013, ch. 154, and remains a Class B misdemeanor.

Related Tennessee laws

• Reckless driving laws by state
• Tennessee DUI laws
• Tennessee manslaughter laws
• Tennessee felony and misdemeanor classes
• Tennessee hit-and-run laws
• Tennessee expungement laws

This article is general legal information about Tennessee law, not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Tennessee, or the Tennessee Department of Safety for driver's license questions.

Last updated: 2026-10-25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Tennessee?

Yes. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-205(d) makes it a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months, a fine up to $500, or both (40-35-111(e)(2)), plus a mandatory $50 fine and a $30 fine under 68-55-302.

What is aggravated reckless driving in Tennessee?

For offenses on or after July 1, 2022, a person who commits reckless driving and intentionally or knowingly impedes traffic commits aggravated reckless driving, a Class A misdemeanor; the court may add a $2,500 fine (Pub. Ch. 1022 of 2022).

How fast is reckless driving in Tennessee?

Only in school zones does a speed make a driver prima facie guilty of reckless driving: over 15 mph passing a school at the listed recess and before-and-after-school times, where no local limit is set (55-8-152(d)). Elsewhere, speeding is a Class C misdemeanor under 55-10-301(a).

How many points is reckless driving in Tennessee?

Six points on the non-commercial schedule of Department of Safety rule 1340-01-04-.03, and 7 on the rule's commercial schedule (8 for a commercial vehicle hauling hazardous material). The same rule lists careless or negligent driving at 4 points.

Will reckless driving suspend my license in Tennessee?

Section 55-50-501(a)(6) requires revocation on conviction, or unvacated bail forfeiture, on two reckless driving charges committed within 12 months. Under rule 1340-01-04-.04, 12 or more points within one year leads to a notice of proposed suspension for drivers 18 or older; for drivers under 18, the threshold is 6 or more points within 12 months.

Does Tennessee have a wet reckless?

Tennessee's DUI statutes name a reckless driving conviction where the charged offense was DUI: it counts as a prior within five years under 55-10-407(c) and 55-10-409(b), and 55-10-413(f) attaches a $250 test fee to a reckless driving conviction when the offender took a breath or chemical test.

Is drag racing a felony in Tennessee?

Yes, for acts on or after July 1, 2024. Public Chapter 1000 of 2024 made drag racing under 55-10-502(a) a Class E felony; from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 it was a Class A misdemeanor.

Is there a careless driving law in Tennessee?

No statute is named careless driving. The due-care requirement in 55-8-136 is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days, a fine up to $50, or both.

What is the penalty for driving on a suspended license in Tennessee?

A Class B misdemeanor under 55-50-504(a)(1), and a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent violation. If the suspension was for vehicular assault, vehicular homicide or DUI, the term is 2 days to 6 months with a fine of up to $1,000.