If you have received a citation for a moving violation (traffic offense), you may be eligible to request a Driving Safety Course (DSC) to have the charge dismissed.

Eligibility Requirements

You may request a DSC if you meet all of the following:

• You have proof of financial responsibility (insurance);
• You have a valid Texas Driver’s License;
• You have not requested and taken a driving safety course or motorcycle operator course for a traffic offense within the last 12 months.
• You are not currently taking a course for another traffic violation;
• You do NOT hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL); and
• You have NOT committed one of the following offenses:
  • Failure to Give Information at Accident Scene;
  • Leaving Scene of Accident;
  • Passing a School Bus;
  • A serious traffic violation, which applies to commercial motor vehicle operators;
  • An offense in a construction maintenance work zone when workers are present; or
  • Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit.

How to Request

If eligible, submit a Driver Safety Request and Affidavit (must be notarized by the Municipal Court Clerk or a Texas Notary) in person, by email, or by mail.

 At the time of submitting the request, you must do the following:

• Plead Guilty or No Contest;
• Pay court costs and fees of $144 (or $169 if the violation occurred in a school zone);
• Provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance); and
• Provide a valid Texas Driver’s License.

If you were operating a motorcycle, you must complete a Motorcycle Operator’s Training Course.

Course and Record Requirements

Once approved by the Judge, the case will be deferred for 90 days. During that time you must:

1. Complete a Driving Safety Course approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or a motorcycle operator’s course approved by the Department of Public Safety. Courses are available online, in person, and in Spanish.

2. Obtain and submit a certified copy of your 3 year Driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety, showing that you have not taken a DSC in the previous 12 months.

*If you do not take the course in the time required and/or fail to present the Court with any of the required documents listed above, you will be notified of the date to appear for a Show Cause Hearing before the Judge. The Judge may, but is not required to, allow you to file the proper papers at that time. Your failure to be present at that hearing will result in a conviction, a fine being assessed, and a warrant for your arrest being issued.

Guidelines set forth by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure: Art. 45.0511 DRIVING SAFETY COURSE OR MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR COURSE DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

You may request a Deferred Disposition from the Judge as a means of dismissal if:

• You received a moving-traffic citation and are not eligible for a Driving Safety Course.

• You failed to provide proof of valid financial responsibility (insurance) at the time of the offense.

The following violations may be dismissed when you provide proof of compliance and pay an administrative fee of up to $20.

Driver’s License Offenses:

• Expired Texas Driver’s License- Present evidence of a remedied expired Texas driver’s license before your first court appearance date, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $20.00). (§521.026, T.C.)

•  Failure to Change Address/Name on Driver’s License- Present evidence of a remedied driver’s license by changing the address or name on your driver’s license not later than 20 working days after the date of the offense, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $20.00). (§521.054(d), T.C.)

• Failure to Display Driver’s License- Present evidence of a driver’s license issued to you, appropriate for the type of vehicle operated, that was valid at the time of the date of the offense, and pay an administrative fee of Zero Dollars ($0.00) (up to $10.00) (§521.025(f), T.C.)

• Violation of Certain Driver’s License Restrictions- Present evidence that the your driver’s license restriction or endorsement was imposed because of a physical condition that was surgically or otherwise medically corrected before the date of the offense, or was in error; DPS removed the restriction or endorsement before the your first court appearance; and pay an administrative fee of Zero Dollars ($0.00) (up to $10.00). (§521.221(d), T.C.)

Vehicle Registration Offenses:

• Expired Vehicle Registration- Present evidence of a remedied expired registration before your first court appearance date, present proof of payment of a late registration fee to the county assessor-collector, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $20.00). (§502.407(b), T.C.)

• Display of Vehicle Registration Insignia for Incorrect Period- Present evidence of remedying the defect (by providing proof of a registration insignia, in effect for the current registration period, attached to or displayed on the correct motor vehicle) before the your first court appearance, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $10.00). (§502.475(c), T.C.)

• Failure to Properly Display Vehicle Registration Insignia- Present evidence of remedying the defect (by providing proof of a registration insignia issued and attached to the motor vehicle establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed) before your first court appearance, and the pay an administrative fee of Zero Dollars ($0.00) (up to $10.00). (§502.473(d), T.C.)

Vehicle License Plate Violations:

• Operation of Vehicle Without Required License Plates- Present evidence of remedying the defect (by providing proof of displaying two license plates issued by the DMV for the current period for the motor vehicle) before your first court appearance, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $10.00). (§504.943(d), T.C.)

• Operation of Vehicle with Altered, Obscured or Impaired License Plate-Present evidence of remedied license plates not altered, obscured or impaired in readability, visibility or detectability before your first court appearance, show that the vehicle was issued a license plate by the DMV that was attached to the vehicle, establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $10.00). (§504.945(d), T.C.)

Operating a Vehicle with Defective Equipment:

• Present evidence of remedied defective equipment before your first court appearance, the offense did not involve a commercial motor vehicle, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $10.00). (§547.004(c)&(d), T.C.)

Expired Disabled Parking Placard:

• Expired for 60 Days or Less- Present evidence of a remedied expired disabled parking placard within 20 working days from the date of the offense or before your first court appearance date, whichever is later, the disabled parking placard was not expired for more than 60 days, and pay an administrative fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00) (up to $20.00). (§681.013(b), T.C.)

• Expired for More than 60 Days- Present evidence of a remedied expired disabled parking placard within 20 working days from the date of the offense or before your first court appearance date, whichever is later, the disabled parking placard was expired for more than 60 days, and pay an administrative fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) (up to $20.00). (§681.013(b)&(c), T.C.)

Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Responsibility

• Present satisfactory evidence to the Court of proof of financial responsibility under Section 601.053 of the Texas Transportation Code that was valid and in effect at the time of the offense, and pay an administrative fee of Zero Dollars ($0.00). (§601.193, T.C.)

The following violations may be dismissed under Standing Motion No. 1 [Motion to Dismiss Certain Delayed Compliance Offenses] if you provide proper proof to the Court.

Driver’s License Offenses:

• Failure to Change Address/Name on Driver’s License- On or before 90 days after the date of the offense, present evidence of a remedied driver’s license by changing the address or name on your driver’s license to the your current address or name. (§521.054, T.C.)

• Failure to Timely Obtain a Texas Driver’s License- On or before 90 days after the date of the offense, present evidence of obtaining a valid Texas driver’s license, proof that you were at least 16 years of age on the date of the offense, and proof that you held a driver’s license issued by your state or country of previous residence on the date of the offense. (§521.021 & §521.029, T.C.)

• Driving While License Invalid- On or before 90 days after the date of the offense, present evidence of a remedied (and valid) Texas driver’s license. (§521.457, T.C.)

If you plead Not Guilty, the Court will schedule your first docket appearance, usually on the second Monday of the month. At this Preliminary Session, you will meet with the Prosecutor to review your case and discuss options, including a trial before the Judge or a jury trial. A Not Guilty plea does not prevent you from later changing your plea to Guilty or No Contest. You may submit your plea in person, by mail, or by email, on or before your appearance date.