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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Camera types
red-light + school-zone speed
Penalty
$50 civil fine
Not a moving violation
no insurance/driving-record impact
Governing section
Knoxville Code § 17-210

Summary

Knoxville's automated enforcement ordinance authorizes red-light cameras at intersections and speed cameras in school zones, imposing a $50 civil penalty mailed to the registered owner rather than a criminal citation.

It shall be unlawful for a vehicle to cross the stop line at a system location per subsection 17-506(a)(3)a, or for a vehicle to violate any other traffic regulation specified in chapter 17 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of Ordinances of the city, including subsection 17-262(1) relative to speeding in school zones.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).

Full Breakdown

City Code § 17-210 lets the police department install traffic control photographic systems at posted intersections to catch vehicles running red lights, plus speed-detection cameras enforcing the 15 mph school-zone limit in § 17-262(1). Violations are civil, not criminal: a $50.00 penalty is mailed to the registered owner, who can pay or contest it in city court, and owners can shift liability by naming who had the vehicle. A photo violation is not a moving violation and cannot be reported to the state or affect insurance. Emergency vehicles, funeral processions and police-escorted vehicles are exempt.

Violations & Fines

A photo-enforcement violation carries a $50.00 civil penalty under § 17-210(d); court costs and fees attach only after a second unpaid notice, and unpaid penalties can be pursued as a civil debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Knoxville red-light camera ticket go on my driving record?
No. Section 17-210(d)(2) makes a photo-enforcement civil penalty not a moving violation, so it cannot be recorded on the driver's or owner's state driving record or affect insurance.
Are school-zone speed cameras covered by the same Knoxville ordinance as red-light cameras?
Yes. Section 17-210 covers both a stop-line photographic system for red-light violations and a speed-detection system enforcing the § 17-262(1) 15 mph school-zone limit.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Knoxville

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsShared E-Scooter RulesSome RestrictionsBike Lane RulesSome RestrictionsE-Bike ClassesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Knoxville rules

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