Tennessee Camera Tickets: What Happens If You Don't Pay?

In Tennessee, red light cameras have been a topic of contention for years, with many questioning the requirement to pay off tickets generated from them. While some Tennessee cities with red light cameras may try to collect fines, state law mandates that each citation must include the statement: Non-payment of this violation cannot have a negative impact on your driver's license, car insurance rates, or credit report. This means that failure to pay a camera ticket will not result in any legal consequences or affect your credit score. However, it is important to note that cities can still take legal action, although it is rare.

No legal right to fine

If you receive a photo enforcement citation or a camera ticket in Tennessee, there is no legal obligation to pay the fine. West Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt (R-76th District) has confirmed that these citations are civil, not criminal, and therefore carry no legal requirement to pay.

Tennessee law permits jurisdictions within the state to use automated cameras at intersections to catch red-light violators. However, signs must be posted to inform drivers of the presence of these cameras. The owner of the vehicle is generally responsible for paying the citation, but if they were not driving at the time of the violation, they can provide the name and address of the driver, or a police report showing the car was stolen, to establish a defence.

According to Holt, while you may receive letters, threats, collection notices, and letters from attorneys, these are simply intimidation tactics. The cities expect the vendors who provide the equipment to process the citation. In Memphis, the photo enforcement ordinance states that the city may establish a trial for civil violators and enforce and collect penalties as debt. However, Holt maintains that it is not worth the company's time or energy to take individuals to court over a $50 fine. He states that he has multiple unpaid photo citations himself, and he has never been taken to court.

Furthermore, the citations themselves typically include wording that explicitly states:

> "non-payment of this citation cannot adversely affect your credit report or credit score, your driver’s license points, or your automobile insurance rates. In essence, it cannot have any adverse impact on you."

Therefore, while there may be some pressure to pay these camera tickets, there is no legal requirement to do so, and non-payment will not result in any negative consequences for individuals in Tennessee.

No negative impact on credit score

If you receive a red-light camera ticket in Tennessee, you are not legally required to pay it. Tennessee state law requires that each citation must clearly state:

> "Non-payment of this citation cannot adversely affect your credit report or credit score, your driver's license points, or your automobile insurance rates. In essence, it cannot have any adverse impact on you."

This means that if you choose to disregard the ticket, your credit score will not be negatively affected. The city may attempt to collect the fine by sending letters, threats, and notices from attorneys, but these are often considered intimidation tactics. While the city could take you to court to collect the debt, it is unlikely to do so for a $50 fine, as it would not be worth the time or energy.

Tennessee state representative Andy Holt has been a vocal opponent of red-light camera tickets and has encouraged people not to pay them. He introduced a bill, HB 1656, which aimed to prohibit the issuance of traffic citations based solely on evidence from unmanned traffic cameras. However, the bill was struck down by lawmakers before leaving the committee.

It is important to note that while non-payment of a red-light camera ticket will not impact your credit score or driving record, there may be other consequences. Some people have reported receiving multiple letters, calls, and even collection notices from law firms. It is also worth considering the potential ethical implications of disregarding a traffic violation, as the cameras are intended to improve road safety.

No effect on driver's license

If you receive a red-light camera ticket in Tennessee, you are not required to pay it. According to Tennessee State Law, each citation must include the following statement in large bold letters:

> NON-PAYMENT OF THIS VIOLATION CANNOT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE, CAR INSURANCE RATES, OR CREDIT REPORT.

This means that if you choose not to pay a camera ticket, your driver's license will not be affected. Your credit score, credit report, and automobile insurance rates will also remain unaffected. The statement clearly indicates that there will be no adverse consequences on these specific areas if you decide not to pay the fine.

While the city where you received the ticket, such as Memphis, may attempt to collect the fine, it is unlikely that they will take legal action. Tennessee Representative Andy Holt has stated that these citations are civil matters, not criminal, and the cities may send letters, threats, and collection notices as intimidation tactics. However, taking individuals to court for a $50 fine is generally not worth the time and effort for the city or the company operating the camera systems.

It is important to note that this information specifically applies to red-light camera tickets in Tennessee and may not be applicable to other types of traffic violations or camera tickets in different states. The laws and consequences may vary depending on the location and nature of the violation. Always review the details of any citation or ticket you receive and consider seeking legal advice if you have concerns or questions about your specific situation.

No effect on car insurance rates

If you receive a photo enforcement citation in the form of a camera ticket in Tennessee, it will have no effect on your car insurance rates. This is because camera tickets are generally treated as civil or administrative violations, which are not considered part of a driver's record and do not result in points on your license.

In most states, camera tickets are treated as non-moving violations, similar to parking tickets, expired registration, or broken tail lights. Non-moving violations do not result in increased insurance rates.

West Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt confirms that these citations cannot adversely affect your automobile insurance rates. He states that it is a civil citation, not a criminal one, so you are not legally required to pay it.

However, it is important to note that there are a few exceptions. In Arizona, California, and Oregon, camera tickets are treated as regular moving violations, which can result in points on your license and increases in insurance rates. Additionally, some insurers may hike rates for multiple speeding fines, while others may overlook minor speeding penalties, especially if you have a clean driving record.

While camera tickets may not directly impact your insurance rates, it is still important to be cautious and obey traffic laws to maintain a clean driving record and avoid any potential consequences or fines.

Cities may try to collect

Although there are no legal consequences for non-payment of red-light camera tickets in Tennessee, cities with red-light cameras may still try to collect the fines. According to West Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt, you'll receive letters, baseless threats, collection notices, and even letters from attorneys, all of which are intimidation tactics.

The city of Memphis, for example, has an ordinance that states: "The city may establish for the trial of civil violators and may enforce and collect all penalties that may be assessed in the nature of debt." This means that the city could take you to court to collect the debt, but Representative Holt argues that for just $50, it's not worth the city's time or energy to pursue legal action.

In 2019, more than 120,000 people in Memphis were sent red-light camera violation notices, but only about a third of them paid the fine. The city collected just over $3 million from these fines, with half going to the city and the rest to American Traffic Solutions, the company that operates the camera systems.

Attorney Murray Wells supports Representative Holt's position, stating that the city knows that if the case goes to court and the accused shows up with a lawyer, one of two things can happen: either the case gets dismissed, or a good lawyer takes the case on appeal, establishing a body of law that cuts off the city's revenue stream.

Therefore, while cities may attempt to collect unpaid red-light camera fines, it is unlikely that they will take legal action, especially considering the low value of the individual fines.

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