No, jaywalking and littering in Tennessee carry civil fines rather than jail time, and enforcement is lax for minor daily infractions—common “everyday law-breaking” claims exaggerate routine violations.​
Jaywalking Regulations
Tennessee Code § 55-8-136 requires pedestrians to use crosswalks where available and yield to vehicles when crossing outside them, classifying violations as Class C misdemeanors with up to $50 fines or rare 30-day jail terms treated mostly as traffic infractions. Local ordinances in cities like Nashville enforce this near signalized intersections, but no points hit driving records, and arrests are unlikely absent accidents.​
Littering Penalties
Littering less than 5 pounds (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-503) results in civil penalties of $250 minimum for first offenses, escalating to $1,000+ for repeats, with no jail for small amounts but community service possible. Highway cleanup laws add “litter patrol” duties, but daily tosses rarely trigger prosecution without witnesses.​
Other Common Infractions
- Distracted walking: No statewide ban, but cities fine crossing while texting.
- Open containers: Pedestrians face alcohol possession fines up to $50 in public.
- Sidewalk cycling: Prohibited in many towns with $30–$55 tickets.​
SOURCES
[1](https://www.crainlawtn.com/blog/can-you-get-arrested-for-jaywalking/)
[2](https://freeatlast.com/illegal-jaywalking-in-tennessee/)
[3](https://www.lrwlawfirm.com/is-jaywalking-illegal-in-tennessee/)
[4](https://legal-resources.uslegalforms.com/j/jay-walking)
[5](https://www.nashvilletnlaw.com/pedestrian-accidents-outside-crosswalks-and-your-rights/)
