How to Pay a Ticket

Court Administrator

Holley Marlowe
[email protected]
(865) 215-7500

Public Safety Complex
1650 Huron St.
P.O. Box 2749
Knoxville, TN 37901-2749

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City Court will accept the following forms of payment: 

* Cash (If paying with coins, only rolled coins accepted!)
* Personal Checks (unless your Driver License has been sent for suspension). Checks MUST be made payable to City Court. 
* Money Orders & Cashier Checks. MUST be made payable to City Court. 
* Master Card / VISA Credit Cards 

How to make payments:

* In person at City Court Service Counter located at 1650 Huron St.
* Mail payments (no cash please) to City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901
* Click here to SUBMIT A PAYMENT ONLINE
* Please note: The oldest citation(s) MUST be paid before the most current citation(s) issued. 

Fine Amounts:


Go to CITATION FINE AMOUNTS to find the amount due per violation or view these "relief" options below. 

PLEASE NOTE: If you were cited on or after July 23, 2014, use the following table to determine your payment amount.

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
NO DRIVER LICENSE IN POSSESSION (17-205DL)

Recently, a Knoxville Police Department Officer cited you for violating the City Ordinance noted above. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow the instructions below. Note...

* Includes revoked or suspended driver license (whether you were aware of that situation or not), as well as simply leaving your DL somewhere else.

* If your DL is revoked or suspended, an Officer has the option to arrest you, and/or to send your ticket to General Sessions Court as a State violation. (Which is more serious and costlier.)

TO DETERMINE YOUR PAYMENT AMOUNT: Review the following to determine which bests describes your situation, then either make payment or provide the required "Proof" to City Court by your scheduled court date via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) or at a City Court Service Counter.

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF A VALID DRIVER LICENSE" $151.50
If you do not have a current, valid driver license to show this Court, the State will add "points" (3) to your driving record and you need to PAY CITY COURT $151.50.

NOTE: If you expect to have a valid driver license within the next 30 days, you may want to contact City Court to reschedule your court date to be able to qualify for relief under item "B" below. (A $5.00 reset fee will be added to your costs.)
B) SHOW "PROOF OF A VALID DL" $101.50
If you can present a current, valid DL, SEND/SHOW THAT "PROOF" to have this charge "Dismissed upon payment of Costs." That means you will not receive any "points" on your record and you need to PAY CITY COURT $101.50.


Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
"EQUIPMENT" VIOLATION (17-###) - A

Recently, a KPD Officer cited you for violating a City Ordinance from the following list. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow these instructions...

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF REPAIR" $79.50
If you do not (or cannot) prove "proof of repair" either with a receipt or visually, you need to PAY CITY COURT in full $79.50.
OR
B) SHOW "PROOF OF REPAIR" $0.00
If you present "proof" you have "repaired" the equipment problem (either with a receipt or visual inspection), that charge will be "Dismissed" in full

* PAYMENT/PROOF may be done at a City Court Service Counter OR via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) by your scheduled Court Date.

* Includes: Faulty Safety Equipment/Bald Tires, 17-376; Improper Headlights, 17-379(a); Illumination of License Plate, 17-379(b4); Improper Lights on Rear of Vehicle, 17-379(b); Improper Stop Light, 17-379(c); No Mirrors, 17-384.

* "Proof of Repair" may be a simple receipt (for a bulb, fuse, mirror, tire(s), etc.), OR bringing the cited vehicle to City Court for a visual inspection of the repaired item.

* If you don't own/don't have access to the cited vehicle, you can still get "credit" if you have proof of a vehicle acquired (bought) after the Citation was issued, and without the equipment problem.

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
"EQUIPMENT" VIOLATION (17-###) - B

Recently, a KPD Officer cited you for violating a City Ordinance from the following list. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow these instructions...

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF REPAIR" $94.50
If you do not (or cannot) prove "proof of repair" either with a receipt or visually, you need to PAY CITY COURT in full $94.50
OR
B) SHOW "PROOF OF REPAIR" $0.00
If you present "proof" you have "repaired" the equipment problem (either with a receipt or visual inspection), that charge will be "Dismissed" in full.


* PAYMENT/PROOF may be done at a City Court Service Counter OR via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) by your scheduled Court Date.

* Includes: Obstructed Driver View, 17-194; Windows Obstructed/No Wipers, 17-385.

* "Proof of Repair" may be a simple receipt (for a bulb, fuse, wiper, mirror, tire(s), etc.), OR bringing the cited vehicle to City Court for a visual inspection of the repaired item.

* If you don't own/don't have access to the cited vehicle, you can still get 'credit' if you have proof of a vehicle acquired (bought) after the Citation was issued, and without the equipment problem.

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
"EQUIPMENT" VIOLATION (17-###) - C

Recently, a KPD Officer cited you for violating a City Ordinance from the following list. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow these instructions...

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF REPAIR" $119.50
If you do not (or cannot) prove "proof of repair" either with a receipt or visually, you need to PAY CITY COURT in full $119.50.
OR
B) SHOW "PROOF OF REPAIR" $0.00
If you present "proof" you have "repaired" the equipment problem (either with a receipt or visual inspection), that charge will be "Dismissed" in full.

* PAYMENT/PROOF may be done at a City Court Service Counter OR via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) by your scheduled Court Date.

* Includes: Improper/Inoperable Equipment, 17-376(a); Improper Color of Lights, 17-379(d); Improper Flash and Blue Lights, 17-379(d3)(e); Loud Muffler, 17-383(a); Car Window Tinting, 17-391.

* "Proof of Repair" may be a simple receipt (for a bulb, fuse, mirror, tire(s), etc.), OR bringing the cited vehicle to City Court for a visual inspection of the repaired item.

* If you don't own/don't have access to the cited vehicle, you can still get "credit" if you have proof of a vehicle acquired (bought) after the Citation was issued, and without the equipment problem.

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
PROOF OF INSURANCE / Financial Responsibility (17-55)

Recently, a Knoxville Police Department Officer cited you for violating the City Ordinance noted above. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow the instructions below. Note...

* Acceptable "Proof of Insurance" can include any official insurance company card, binder, declaration page, or DOS Certificate, listing you (OR the vehicle listed on the citation) as covered, the coverage period, and the policy number; this can be a Non-Owner's policy if you do not own a vehicle. The State of Tennessee only requires Liability Insurance coverage.

* If you drive, it is your responsibility to be insured! It does not matter who owns the car, nor where the car is now, to receive any "relief" on this charge, you must show "Proof of Insurance" coverage on the date the citation was received.

* IF YOU DO NOT SHOW "PROOF OF INSURANCE" YOUR DL COULD BE SUSPENDED!

TO DETERMINE YOUR PAYMENT AMOUNT: Review the following to determine which bests describes your situation, then either make payment and/or provide the required "Proof" to City Court by your scheduled court date via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) or at a City Court Service Counter.

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF INSURANCE" $151.50
If you (or the vehicle cited) wasn't covered by an auto insurance policy when you received your ticket, you need to PAY CITY COURT $151.50.
B) SHOW "PROOF OF INSURANCE" $0.00
If you had insurance when you received your ticket, but just did not have "Proof of Insurance" with you at that time, SEND/SHOW THAT PROOF now so this charge will be completely "Dismissed". You PAY CITY COURT $0.00

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
VIOLATION STATE REGISTRATION LAW (17-205REG)

Recently, a Knoxville Police Department Officer cited you for violating the City Ordinance noted above. You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow the instructions below. Note...

* This includes an "expired tag," and/or a tag on one vehicle that is registered to another.

* This also includes your being unable to present an Officer a current copy of the vehicle license plate (tag) registration form.

* To qualify for "Proof" of a valid registration, you only need present the current Registration Form (or a copy) you received from your County Clerk when you renewed your registration.

* If you do not own or have access to the vehicle, the law still considers you responsible.

TO DETERMINE YOUR PAYMENT AMOUNT: Review the following to determine which bests describes your situation, then either make payment or provide the required "Proof" to City Court by your scheduled court date via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901) or at a City Court Service Counter.

A) PAY BEFORE COURT WITH NO "PROOF OF A VALID REGISTRATION/TAG" $151.50
If you do not have a current, valid Registration Form to show this Court, the State will add 'points' (3) to your driving record and you need to PAY CITY COURT $151.50. 

NOTE: If you expect to have valid registration within the next 30 days, you may want to contact City Court to reschedule your court date to be able to qualify for relief under item 'B' below. (A $5.00 reset fee will be added to your costs.)
B) SHOW "PROOF OF A VALID REGISTRATION/TAG" $101.50
If you can present a current, valid Registration Form (we do not need to see your "tag"), SEND/SHOW THAT "PROOF" to have this charge "Dismissed upon payment of Costs." That means you will not receive any "points" on your record and you need to PAY CITY COURT $101.50

Knoxville CITY COURT "Relief" Option
"Speeding" On The Interstate - SPECIAL

 Recently, a KPD Officer cited you for SPEEDING/INTERSTATE, which, by State Law, is treated differently than simple "speeding." You do not need to appear in Court on this charge if you follow these instructions...

* In accordance with Tennessee Department of Safety policy, this Court does not report speeding violations cited on an Interstate Highway unless the cited speed is 75 mph or above, or unless the violation occurs within an area designated as a "construction zone" (with 45 mph Speed Limit).

* Therefore, Speeding Charges on the Interstate, with cited speed of 74 mph or less (in a non-construction zone) will have no effect on your driving record nor your Insurance, since they are not reported to DOS.

* $96.50 is the least you might pay if you go to Court and this is your 1st traffic ticket. (That assumes the Judge grants you "Judicial Diversion," which is not guaranteed. The Judge would probably also allow you to attend Traffic School, but that would cost you at least another $50. Since this charge has "no points," getting diversion or Traffic School to keep the points off is not needed.

TO DETERMINE YOUR PAYMENT AMOUNT: Review the following to determine which bests describes your situation, then make payment to City Court by your scheduled court date via the mail (City Court, P.O. Box 2749, Knoxville, TN 37901), at a City Court Service Counter or SUBMIT A PAYMENT ONLINE.

A) CITED SPEED BETWEEN 1 TO 14 MPH OVER THE LIMIT (INCLUSIVE), PAY BEFORE COURT $116.50
B) CITED SPEED BETWEEN 15 TO 24 MPH OVER THE LIMIT (INCLUSIVE), PAY BEFORE COURT $126.50
B) CITED SPEED BETWEEN 25 MPH OR MORE OVER THE LIMIT OR IN A SCHOOL ZONE (INCLUSIVE), PAY BEFORE COURT $151.50