Traffic Violations

The first step in resolving your ticket is to read the instructions on your ticket. This contains most of the information you need on how to take care of your citation. You have 15 calendar days from the date of your citation to make an appearance regarding your citation. Refer to “Appearances” below on this page. After this 15-day period, a warrant may be issued adding a $50 warrant fee to the original charge. A separate charge of "Violation of Promise to Appear" will be filed against you. Arrest warrants will be issued on both of these charges. Refer to “Warrants” below on this page.

Paying a traffic ticket online

To pay a traffic fine online, click here.

Driving safety course

With a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest), you may request permission to take a driving safety course. You may be eligible to request this course if:

• You have a valid Texas driver’s license.
• Insurance in your name or on a vehicle operating at time of ticket.
• You have not taken a course in 12 months;
• Your citation is not for speeding (25 mph over the limit) and you have a class “C” driver’s license.
• You do not have a commercial driver’s license.
• Your citation is not for an offense committed in a construction zone when workers were present.
• You have not committed one of the following offenses:
  • Failure to give information at an accident.
  • Leaving the scene of an accident.
  • Fleeing or attempting to elude police officers.
  • Reckless driving.
  • Passing a school bus.
  • A serious traffic violation and you have a commercial driver’s license.

There is a $144.00 court cost that must be paid at the time of request. However, if your offense occurred in a school zone, the court cost is $169. 

You will be able to take the driving safety course either by taking a six-hour class, online or with a rental video. For your convenience, a list of locations where safety driving school is offered, addresses for the online class and places to rent the video will be given to all persons requesting the driving safety course. It is your responsibility to choose a course convenient for you and register with that course.

You will be responsible for providing the court with a copy of your driving record. This can be requested by sending a form to DPS or requesting your record online. The form will be furnished to you at the time you make your request.

You will be given 90 days to complete this course, return your driving record and your certificate of completion to the court. You MUST submit your certificate of completion and driving record to the court on or before the date given to you. If you fail to bring your certificate and driving record to court within the time allowed, you will receive a summons from the court to appear and show cause why you failed to show proof of completion. If you wish to dispose of this prior to the show cause hearing, you may pay the remaining amount on your citation. There are no extensions on the 90 days. 

If you fail to appear at the hearing, a warrant may be issued for your arrest. Refer to “Warrants” below on this page.

Driving Record Request By Mail

Driving Record Request Online

Driving Safety Courses

Equipment violations/mandatory dismissals

If you have received one of the following offenses, you must appear in person or in writing within 15 calendar days from the date you received the citation and pay a $10 dismissal fine. You MUST have remedied the violation for the citation to be dismissed.

No License Plates on Vehicle - One License Plate on Vehicle - Display Altered License Plate - Unclean License Plate - Obscured License Plate - Obscured Registration Insignia - Fail to Display Drivers License - Violated Drivers License Restriction/Endorsement - Defective Equipment - Unsafe Condition

If you received one of the following offenses, you must appear in person or in writing within 20 working days from the date you received the citation and pay a $20 dismissal fee. You MUST have remedied the violation for the citation to be dismissed. 

Expired Registration - Fictitious/Wrong License Plates - Expired Drivers License - Fail to Change Address on Drivers License - Fail to Change Name on Drivers License

* If you wish to dispose of the above by mail, you must send receipts with the vehicle information listed (such as year, make, model, license plate number).

* If you receive a citation for Expired Vehicle Registration, be sure to advise the Vehicle Registration Department with your county that you received a citation and pay the required penalty. We must have a copy of your registration form showing the penalty paid in order to dismiss your citation, and the sticker must have been expired less than 90 days.

Fail to maintain financial responsibility (no insurance)

This offense may be dismissed at no charge if you provide proof of liability insurance covering the vehicle listed on the citation to the Court. The policy must be in effect at the date and time the citation was issued. The proof should be an insurance card or the insurance policy with the name and telephone number of the agent issuing the policy. All insurance policies will be verified prior to dismissing the citation. Proof of insurance must be filed within 15 days of your citation. Failure to do so may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest and a warrant fee of $50 will be added to your offense. A separate charge of Violation of Promise to Appear may be filed against you and a warrant for this charge may be issued after a notice of appearance before the Court is scheduled.  If you fail to appear on or before this appearance date a warrant will be issued. 

A second or subsequent conviction of an offense may result in one or more of the following:

• Your vehicle may be impounded and a pre-paid policy will be required  by the court.
• Your driver's license may be suspended by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Juveniles

Juveniles (16 years old) who receive a traffic citation must appear in court with their parent or legal guardian.