Traffic Attorney in Memphis, TN

A Sitting Judge Who Defends Memphis Drivers in the Same Courts He Presides Over

A traffic ticket looks simple on the surface. Pay the fine, move on. But under Tennessee law, paying that ticket is a guilty plea, and the conviction goes straight onto your motor vehicle record (MVR). Attorney Tim Francavilla has practiced in Memphis-area courts since 1997, and since 2016 he has served as a sitting judge at Bartlett Municipal Court. That judicial perspective shapes how we approach every traffic case we defend.

Every client at Francavilla Law Firm works directly with Tim Francavilla from the first call through resolution. No hand-offs to junior staff, no paralegals managing your case between check-ins. If you’re facing a traffic violation in Memphis or anywhere across Shelby County, that direct access makes a real difference in how your case is prepared and argued.

Don’t pay a traffic ticket before understanding what it costs you long-term. Call our Memphis traffic attorneys at (901) 979-9992 to discuss your options before your court date.

Traffic Violations We Defend in Memphis

We defend drivers facing the full range of traffic offenses in Memphis, Shelby County, and across West Tennessee, including Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, and Tipton, Fayette, and Lauderdale counties. From routine tickets to more serious moving violations, we build a defense around the specific facts of your stop and citation.

Traffic offenses we handle include:

• Speeding tickets: Including cases well above posted limits where point exposure is highest
• Reckless driving: Treated as a more serious offense than a standard speeding ticket under Tennessee law, with correspondingly higher penalties
• Street racing: A distinct charge that can escalate in severity depending on circumstances
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Improper lane changes and failure to yield
• Distracted driving citations
• Driving without a license or on a suspended license

Reckless driving and street racing carry consequences well beyond a standard fine. We cover each of those charges in dedicated pages with greater detail. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders should also know that standard plea options available to personal vehicle drivers may not offer the same protections against CDL-level consequences under federal and state rules.

What a Traffic Conviction Actually Costs in Tennessee

Tennessee uses a driver improvement point system that assigns points to your motor vehicle record for each moving violation. Accumulate 12 or more points within a 12-month period and your license may be suspended. The values add up quickly: Speeding carries 1 to 8 points depending on how far over the limit you were, reckless driving carries 6 points, and texting while driving carries 3 points.

A conviction stays on your Tennessee MVR for three years and can’t be expunged once entered. Insurance carriers review driving records regularly, and a single conviction can trigger premium increases that far exceed the original fine over that period. Drivers facing suspension also risk losing the ability to commute to work, which compounds the practical consequences well beyond the courtroom.

Driving on a suspended license in Tennessee is a separate criminal offense carrying additional fines and potential jail time. What starts as a traffic ticket can become a more serious legal problem if it isn’t handled before a suspension takes effect.

Why Memphis Drivers Choose Francavilla Law Firm

Tim Francavilla brings a sitting judge’s direct view of how traffic cases are evaluated and what arguments actually move courts. Since 2016, he has presided at Bartlett Municipal Court while continuing to represent clients across the region. That dual perspective informs how we evaluate citations, identify weaknesses in the state’s evidence, and frame arguments for each specific court.

Having appeared in Memphis City Courts, Shelby County General Sessions Court, and courts throughout the surrounding counties since 1997, we know the procedures and tendencies specific to each courtroom. That context shapes how a case is prepared, not just how it’s argued at the hearing.

Additional credentials that inform our traffic defense work:

• NHTSA Certification: Tim Francavilla is certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, supporting evidence evaluation in traffic stops involving DUI-adjacent issues
• Appellate experience: We have briefed and argued cases before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court
• Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished rating: A peer review recognition from fellow attorneys and judges for ethical standards and legal ability
• Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) membership and regular lecturing for the Tennessee and Memphis Bar Associations

We explain legal options and fee structures transparently before you commit to anything. Knowing what representation costs and what the realistic paths forward look like is part of how we work from the first conversation.

Memphis-Area Courts Where We Practice

Where your traffic case is heard depends on who issued the citation. A Memphis police officer routes your case to one of the Memphis City Courts. A Shelby County sheriff’s deputy sends it to Shelby County General Sessions Court. Citations issued in Bartlett, Germantown, or Collierville are handled in each municipality’s own court. Each venue has its own deadlines, procedures, and tendencies, and an attorney who appears there regularly is better positioned to navigate them.

Francavilla Law Firm practices in Memphis City Courts, Shelby County General Sessions Court, Bartlett Municipal Court, and courts throughout Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, and Madison counties. Tim Francavilla’s role as a sitting judge at Bartlett Municipal Court since 2016 gives him direct familiarity with that court’s specific expectations. Knowing where your case is going and what that court requires is part of the preparation that starts on day one.

Talk to a Memphis Traffic Attorney Before Your Court Date

The window to act on a traffic violation is short, and paying the fine early closes it permanently. Contact Francavilla Law Firm to go over the specifics of your charge and what defense options are available. Tim Francavilla handles client communications personally from the first contact, so you get direct answers, not a callback from staff.

Call (901) 979-9992 to speak with Tim Francavilla about your Memphis traffic case.