Ticket Dismissal in Texas

Determine Your “Course” of Action

To get your traffic ticket dismissed and points removed from your TX driving record, you might have the option to complete a six-hour, state-approved driving safety course. Just be sure the course is approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Your first step to getting the ticket dismissed is admitting guilt to the moving violation or signing a statement that you don’t contest the citation. Then you must request permission by responding to the court on or before the appearance date specified on your traffic ticket. Check with the court on your options to do so either in person or by mail.

Those Not Eligible To Dismiss a Traffic Ticket

There are at least two circumstances where the state will not dismiss your traffic ticket upon completion of a driver safety course:

• Speeding tickets for more than 25 miles over the posted speed limit

• Traffic violations committed by commercial drivers.

If you hold a TX CDL and get pulled over, you won’t get your ticket dismissed no matter what type of vehicle you were driving when cited.

Complete a Driving Safety Course

Once you gain the court’s approval to take a driving safety course, it will give you a deadline by which you must complete the course. For many drivers, spare time to sit all day in a classroom doesn’t come easily. Therefore, look into online offerings for a state-approved class that you can take from your own computer when your schedule allows. Just be sure you pass the course by the deadline set by the court. In many cases, this is a 90-day period.

No matter which route you take (traditional classroom, DVD or online course), you’ll receive a completion certificate after passing the six-hour course. Often times the traffic school will send you two certificates by mail―one for the court and one for your auto insurance provider.

NOTE: The court will only honor course completion after you get a traffic violation. In other words, you can’t complete a driving safety course and save your completion certificate for a later traffic ticket.

Submit Requirements to the Court

The court will inform you of what you need to submit to get your traffic ticket dismissed and points removed from your driving record. This often includes:

• Your driving safety course completion certificate

• Fees in addition to the traffic ticket fines

• A copy of your driving record

The state only allows one TEA-approved course completion to dismiss a traffic ticket per year. This yearly limit does not apply if you were cited for not having a child safety seat or not having a child properly in the seat. In this case, you might be eligible to take a Child Seat Belt Safety Course in addition to driving safety course.

Check Your Texas Driving Record

To ensure you the state removed or reduced your points, check your driving record. You'll also want to periodically ensure that the state's record is accurate regardless if you were recently ticketed. Because an accumulation of points could lead to a suspended driver's license or an in increase in your auto insurance rates, make sure your driving record is always correct.

Get an Auto Insurance Discount

Not only will you get a refresher on Texas traffic laws and safe-driving tips, you might also get a discount on your auto insurance rates. Many car insurance companies will discount the liability portion of your auto insurance policy (up to 10%) after you complete a TEA-approved course. Inquire with your auto insurance provider for more on this type of discount. It could save you money for the next three years.