Requirements to Take Driving Safety Course

Not everyone is eligible for driving safety course, be certain to check the requirements to see if you are eligible. If you are, you may request permission to take a driving safety course (DSC) before the appear by date on the citation, by drop box, mail, or in person.

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

• Enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest
• Present a valid Texas drivers license
• Present proof of financial responsibility (auto insurance) listing you as a driver
• Pay the applicable state costs, and an administrative fee of $144.00 or $169.00 if the offense occurred in a school zone. All costs and fees are subject to change without notice

When You Are Not Eligible to Request a Driving Safety Course

• You received a ticket for speeding 25 mph over the posted speed limit
• The offense occurred in a construction zone with workers present
• The offense was for unlawfully passing a school bus
• The offense was for leaving the scene of an accident
• You have or held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) at the time of the offense.
• If you have taken a DSC within the 12 months before the date of this citation, or you are currently required to take a DSC for another citation

What to do Next

Bring or mail the listed items to the court, and upon approval, the court will grant you permission to take the course.

You will have 90 days to complete the course and obtain a certified copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin. Both documents – the course completion certificate and the certified copy of your driving record – must be returned to the court on or before the 90th day to have your citation dismissed.

Note: If you are applying by mail, please wait until you have received permission from the court before you take the course

Where You Can Take a Driving Safety Course

You may search for driving safety courses online, the course must be an approved course for the dismissal of a traffic citation in the State of Texas.

Failure to Complete a Driving Safety Course

If you fail to complete any one of the requirements by your due date, you will need to attend your show cause hearing. The date is preset when you are approved for the DSC. If you fail to appear at the hearing, a conviction on your case will be imposed and payment will be due immediately. If payment is not made immediately or an appeal bond filed, a capias pro fine warrant with a $50 warrant fee will be issued.

Not everyone is eligible for deferred disposition, be certain to check the requirements to see if you are eligible. If you are, you may request permission to do deferred disposition before the appear by date on the citation, by drop box, mail, or in person. Tool Municipal Court Portal.

Definition

Deferred Disposition is a type of probation that can dismiss your citation if you meet certain criteria. You will be on probation up to 180 days, depending on the kind of violation.

Advantages

When you successfully complete deferred disposition, there is no final conviction and the complaint may not be used against you for any purpose. A conviction will not be reported.

Disqualifiers

• You were charged with going 25 miles or more over the speed limit.
• You are charged with a violation in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present.
• You hold a commercial driver’s license or held one at the time you were cited for the offense.
• You have successfully completed deferred disposition in the last 12 months.

Eligibility

Your answers to these questions to determine if you qualify for deferred disposition:

• Do you have a valid driver’s license?
• Was there an accident involved at the time you received your citation?
• Are you now on deferred disposition for a citation anywhere?
• Have you been placed on deferred disposition within the 12 months preceding the date of this citation?

Please note:

• If you are under 25 you will be required to take a driver safety course as a condition of deferred disposition.
• If you qualify, you will be required to pay a special expense fee and court costs at the time of the application.

If your case is eligible, you may apply and submit documents through the Tool Municipal Court Portal. Photographs of documents are acceptable as long as they are legible.

Remember, deferred disposition is a way of having your citation dismissed after satisfactory completion of the probationary period in which no additional convictions are received and all requirements imposed in the deferred order are satisfied. On the 90th day you will need to appear to the court to turn in your requirements and sign the affidavit.

The following chart depicts all violations that can be dismissed by the court. To be considered for dismissal, the violation must be remedied and the required proof presented to the court by the appear by date on the citation. 

Violation: Defective Equipment (any violation  Of Transport Code Chapter 547 not on A commercial motor vehicle)

• Fine: $ Varies
• Required Proof: PD will inspect vehicle
• Dismissal Fee: $10

Violation: Driver’s License Fail to Display

• Fine: $234
• Required Proof: Driver’s license that was valid at the time of the citation
• Dismissal Fee: $10

Violation: Expired Driver’s License 

• Fine: $281
• Required Proof: Renewed driver’s license
• Dismissal Fee: $20

Violation: Expired Motor Vehicle Registration

• Fine: $214
• Required Proof: Receipt from county showing when the vehicle was registered and that the penalty was paid
• Dismissal Fee: $20

Violation: Fail to display current registration on vehicle 

• Fine: $214
• Required Proof: PD will inspect vehicle
• Dismissal Fee: $10

Violation: Fail to report change of address

• Fine: $234
• Required Proof: Driver’s license with a new address
• Dismissal Fee: $20

Violation: Failure to Maintain financial responsibility - liability insurance

• Fine: $390
• Required Proof: Proof of financial responsibility (liability insurance card) that the court verifies was valid at the time of violation
• Dismissal Fee: $0