Traffic tickets are quietly vanishing from a Davidson County courtroom, and one Nashville councilmember is not having it.
Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston says three full dockets of traffic citations were dismissed after Metro Legal stopped staffing traffic court. She said she first learned about the issue around July 14 and went public after learning a third docket had been thrown out, calling the situation “just unacceptable.” Johnston warned the mass dismissals undercut enforcement work by the MNPD Traffic Division and clash with the city's Vision Zero road safety strategy.
Court records reviewed by WKRN News 2 show 44 traffic cases were either retired or dismissed across the affected dockets. Each court session listed at least 20 defendants, with charges that included speeding, texting while driving, expired parking meters, and expired registrations. Public traffic dockets from the Metropolitan Nashville Circuit Clerk show dozens of cases per session, and many entries list Metro Legal attorneys, pointing to a staffing gap that appears to have affected multiple calendars.
Why the Councilmember Says the Dismissals Matter
Johnston and several of her colleagues have been tying routine ticket enforcement to Nashville's broader Vision Zero push, arguing that what happens in traffic court is part of how the city prevents serious crashes and deaths on local roads. In recent meetings, the Metro Council has backed grants and projects that combine engineering changes with enforcement and public outreach, highlighting why lost court outcomes have rattled some members, according to Motioncount.
Officials Respond
Johnston told reporters that the dismissals are especially frustrating because MNPD's Traffic Division is out on the streets every day writing citations and enforcing existing laws. She urged Metro Legal and Judge Robin Kimbrough Hayes to find a solution that keeps traffic dockets on the calendar instead of tossing them, calling the pattern “absolutely frustrating” and “unacceptable.”
The office of Judge Kimbrough Hayes said the judge cannot ethically comment on the outcome of specific cases. Court staff and Metro Legal have been contacted for additional details, according to WSMV.
What Happens Next
Johnston says the practical fix does not have to be complicated. In her view, traffic dockets should be continued or rescheduled while Metro Legal and the court work out any staffing issues, instead of wiping cases out altogether.
With new traffic dockets scheduled every day, she argues the clock is ticking. Johnston has warned that letting the current situation drag on could chip away at recent safety gains. Metro Legal has declined to comment on the matter, according to WKRN News 2.
