Traffic tickets in Texas
Texas routes most traffic tickets through municipal or justice courts and offers several ways to keep an eligible ticket off your record. Deferred disposition and a driving safety course are widely used.
License points
Texas uses a points system that can add surcharges or affect your license if points accumulate from convictions over time. Resolving a ticket through dismissal options can help avoid a conviction and its points. Check official Texas DPS and court resources for current details.
Ways to reduce or dismiss a ticket
- ✓Deferred disposition (a form of probation that may dismiss the ticket)
- ✓Driving safety course / defensive driving for dismissal of an eligible violation
- ✓Requesting a hearing or trial in municipal or justice court
- ✓Pleading no contest or not guilty by the deadline
Deadlines
Respond by the deadline printed on your citation. Missing it in Texas can lead to added penalties and, in some cases, a warrant, so contact the court named on your ticket promptly if you need more time.
Texas cities
Frequently asked questions
What is deferred disposition in Texas?
It is a form of probation many Texas courts offer. If you meet the conditions for a set period without another violation, the case may be dismissed and kept off your driving record. Eligibility and terms vary by court.
Does a driving safety course dismiss a Texas ticket?
In many cases an approved driving safety course can dismiss an eligible moving violation if you request it in time and meet requirements. Confirm eligibility with the court listed on your citation.
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