Kingsport, TN Mobility & Curb Rules: Red-Light Cameras (2026)

Kingsport, Tennessee, regulates automated traffic enforcement in Chapter 98, Article VIII, Division 2 (Secs. 98-497 to 98-504). The division is written around traffic enforcement camera systems at a system location, defined as the approach to an intersection toward which a camera is directed and in operation. The Kingsport Police Department or its agent administers the systems and maintains the list of system locations (Sec. 98-499(a)). Only P.O.S.T. certified or state commissioned officers employed by the city police department decide whether a violation occurred, based on review of the recorded images (Sec. 98-499(b)).

Section 98-500(a) sets the offense. A vehicle crossing the stop line at a system location while facing a red signal is unlawful, but no citation can issue on camera evidence alone unless it shows the front tire or tires before the stop line when the signal is red and the rear tire or tires past the line while the signal is red. A camera can support a citation for a right turn on red only at an intersection clearly marked by a No Turn On Red sign erected by the city; any other camera citation for failing to stop before a permitted right turn is invalid. A citation is also invalid if the registration information does not match the recorded evidence.

The notice of violation goes by first class mail to the registered owner within 20 business days, absent exigent circumstances arising from registration irregularities, with a Tennessee return address, and allows payment within 30 days. No additional fine or costs attach for nonpayment unless a second notice is mailed giving another 30 days (Sec. 98-499(d)). The owner can pay $50.00 instead of appearing or contest the citation in city court (Secs. 98-499(f), 98-501).

Liability follows the registered owner by strict liability (Sec. 98-502), subject to the affirmative defenses in Sec. 98-503 and the vehicle exemptions in Sec. 98-504. The division states it must be construed to comply with T.C.A. § 55-8-198 (Sec. 98-500(b)).