Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-146 (2026)
Juvenile traffic offenders
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) All cases of alleged traffic violations by children coming within this part shall be heard and disposed of upon a traffic ticket or citation signed by a law enforcement officer that describes in general terms the nature of the violation. Such cases may be disposed of through informal adjustment, pretrial diversion, or judicial diversion; in any case, however, the child or the child's parents may request and shall be granted a hearing before the judge.
- (b) If the court finds that the child violated a traffic law or ordinance, the court may adjudicate the child to be a traffic violator, and the court may make one (1) or any combination of the following decisions:
- (1) Suspend and hold the child's driver license for a specified or indefinite time;
- (2) Limit the child's driving privileges as an order of the court;
- (3) Order the child to attend traffic school, if available, or to receive driving instructions;
- (4) Impose a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) against the child's parent or legal guardian;
- (5) Perform community service work in lieu of a fine; or
- (6) Place the child on probation pursuant to § 37-1-131(a)(2).
- (c) In any case or class of cases, the judge of any juvenile court may waive jurisdiction of traffic violators who are sixteen (16) years of age or older, and such cases shall be heard by the court or courts having jurisdiction of adult traffic violations, or the child's parent or legal guardian may pay the stipulated fine to a traffic bureau.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 312,s 9, eff. 5/8/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052,s 44, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052,s 43, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 600,s 11, eff. 7/1/2016.
Acts 1970, ch. 600, § 45; T.C.A., § 37-245.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 22
cases, 1987–2017 · leading case: Gdongalay P. Berry v. State of Tennessee, 366 S.W.3d 160 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011).
Gdongalay P. Berry v. State of Tennessee, 366 S.W.3d 160 (Tenn. Crim. App. 2011). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-158 provides: (a) Except in cases arising under § 37-1-146, all files and records of the court in a proceeding under this part are open to inspection only by: (1) The judge, officers and professional staff of the court; (2) The parties to…”
Scales v. Winston, 760 S.W.2d 952 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988). “— (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly, or dependent and neglected, or to have committed a juvenile traffic offense as…”
State Dep't of Human Servs. v. Gouvitsa, 735 S.W.2d 452 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987). “§ 37-1-103 reads in part as follows: Exclusive original jurisdiction, (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly, or dependent and…”
Arnold v. Gouvitsa, 735 S.W.2d 458 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1987). “§ 37-1-103 reads in part as follows: Exclusive original jurisdiction, (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly, or dependent and…”
State v. Harris, 30 S.W.3d 345 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1999). “Section 37-1-153 provides, in relevant part: Except in cases arising under § 37-1-146, all files and records of the court in a proceeding under this part are open to inspection only by: (1) The judge, officers and professional staff of the court; (2) The parties to the…”
In re D.Y.H., 226 S.W.3d 327 (Tenn. 2007). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-103 provides in relevant part: (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: il) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly or dependent and…”
P.E.K. v. J.M., 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “tatutes address the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as relates to this matter, as follows: (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: *659 (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be…”
State v. James, 902 S.W.2d 911 (Tenn. 1995). “In addition, Rule 27(a), Tennessee Rules of Juvenile Procedure provides: Juvenile court hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the highest standards of courtroom conduct and deportment which shall be prescribed in writing by local rules.”
Pek v. Jm, 52 S.W.3d 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2001). “tatutes address the jurisdiction of the juvenile court as relates to this matter, as follows: (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: *659 (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be…”
Meredith Craft v. Juv. Court of Shelby Cnty., 173 S.W.3d 736 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). “ive, original jurisdiction is Tennessee Code Annotated, § 37-l-103(a), which reads, in pertinent part: The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be…”
In Re Dyh, 226 S.W.3d 327 (Tenn. 2007). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-103 provides in relevant part: (a) The juvenile court has exclusive original jurisdiction of the following proceedings, which are governed by this part: (1) Proceedings in which a child is alleged to be delinquent, unruly or dependent and…”
In Re: Carolina M. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2016). “Best was appropriate because she shared confidential court records with the child‟s teacher in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated § 37-1-153, which states in pertinent part: (a) Except in cases arising under § 37-1-146, all files and records of the court in a proceeding under…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-1-146(b) — 1 case
State of Tennessee v. Hans Vincent Morris (Tenn. Crim. App. 1996).
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