Tn Traffic Case – Terrified Of Jail Time, Need Perspective

Hi everyone, I’m really scared and could use some realistic advice.

I got pulled over in Portland, Tennessee for going 55 in a 30. On top of that, I found out my license was suspended because I didn’t complete traffic school back in 2022. My license is from another state, and I genuinely did not know it was suspended at the time. I’m already in the process of fixing it and have a date scheduled to retake the test for reinstatement.

Here’s where things got worse:I missed my first court date because I thought I needed to fix my license before showing up to court. The day after the court date, I called to reschedule and was told I now had a Failure to Appear. I drove back to Tennessee, turned myself in, sat in a holding cell for 18 hours, then got bailed out.

I have no violent or criminal history: a few speeding tickets and expired tags. That’s it.

I now have an attorney representing me, but he told me that I could be facing up to 11 months and 29 days in jail, and I’ve been spiraling ever since. I understand I was negligent and irresponsible — I own that — but jail feels extreme and I’m honestly terrified.

my questions are:

Is jail actually likely in a case like this?

Does the fact that I hired an attorney, fixed my license issues, and voluntarily turned myself in matter?

Is this more of a “worst-case statutory maximum” situation, or should I genuinely be preparing for incarceration?

I know I messed up. I’m not trying to dodge responsibility — I just want to understand what’s realistic here because the anxiety is eating me alive.

Location: Portland, TN