Disclaimer

  • Traffic Tickets

     
    Texas Defensive Driving Sponsors
    www.ASenseOfHumorDriving.com
    TX approved. Lowest price! Online course that is fast, easy and fun.
    www.ASenseOfHumorDriving.com
    Texas-DefensiveDriving-Courses.com
    TX DPS Approved Accepted by All Courts in Texas. Same-Day Processing.
    Texas-DefensiveDriving-Courses.com
    DefensiveDrivingTexas.com
    Online course. State approved. Dismiss your ticket now. $25.
    DefensiveDrivingTexas.com
     
    Order Driving Records
    Certified Records (Individuals):

    Individuals can order their own Texas certified driving record online from TexasCertified.com. This is the type of driving record required by Texas courts when taking a defensive driving course. TexasCertified.com hand delivers orders directly to the DPS each day with expedited results.

    Standard:

    The Texas standard driving record is the type of driving record used for employment screening purposes. Order a Texas driving record online from TexasCertified.com and receive it within 5-7 days.

    Texas driving records, also known as MVRs, are records that provide a history of violations, suspensions, and other details about a person's driving history.

    One of the fastest ways to get your Certified or Standard Driving Record is to order it online at TexasCertified.com.

    Businesses can also order Texas driving records for employment screening purposes here >>. For questions about an existing order you have already placed, contact the DrivingRecords.com customer service.

     
    Get Insurance Quotes
    www.GEICO.com
    How much could you save on car insurance? Free quotes.
    www.GEICO.com
    www.GEICO.com
    How much could you save on car insurance? Free quotes.
    www.GEICO.com

    No one likes to get a traffic ticket. At the least, being pulled over makes you late. And depending on the infraction and how many you've had before, getting a traffic ticket could increase your insurance rates when the court notifies the Driver License Division and the citation appears on your driving record.

    Worse yet, if the ticket pushes you over one of Texas' point limits, it could also usher in a long period of annual fines called surcharges.

    Top There's a Cop Behind You with Flashing Lights. What Now?

    Whoops, that should be "Public Safety Officer" or "Texas State Trooper." Here's what to do:

    • Slow down immediately, put on your blinker, and pull over as soon as it is safe.
    • Breathe deeply and calm down from the initial adrenalin surge of realizing you're being pulled over.
    • Stay in your car unless instructed otherwise.
    • Follow all instructions exactly.
    • Move slowly and keep your hands visible. Quick moves can be misinterpreted as a threat.
    • Be absurdly polite. If you sound almost normal, you are not being polite enough.
    • Sign the ticket. This is not an admission of guilt, just an acknowlegement that you received the ticket (like signing for a package). And besides, if you don't sign, the officer has to arrest you.

    Once you have the ticket, you have 10 days to decide how to respond to it―by paying the fine or by appearing in court. The responsibility for telling the court what you are going to do is yours―you must contact them. (They've already contacted you, in a way, by issuing the ticket).

    You may then have the option of attending a defensive driving safety class to dismiss the ticket. If you're found guilty of going above 95 mph, however, you're out of luck―you will not be able to take the class for ticket dismissal.

    For serious violations, or violations that may put you over the point limit, you may want to contact an attorney who specializes in traffic cases.

    The basic point system in Texas is simple:

    • Any moving violation: 2 points
    • Any moving violation resulting in an accident: 3 points

    If you accumulate six points on your license, be prepared to pay a violation surcharge (see below).

    Top Surchargeable Violations

    Texas employs a unique penalty system called the Driver Responsibility Program for those whose moving violations are particularly egregious (or frequent). The basis for this program is a series of annual fines―also called surcharges―for those guilty of these offenses.

    What Texas calls "surchargeable violations" are typically the kinds of transgressions that constitute crimes, such as DWI, driving without insurance, or driving without a license. If you go through the court system, it's probably a surchargeable violation.

    A surchargeable violation will result in you paying a substantial additional fine annually for several years. These extra penalties can be from $100 each year to a whopping $2,000 per year for three years. Since the additional penalties can add up to $6,000 total, you may want to discuss these cases with a lawyer.

    Other violations can also result in you paying these surcharges, if you get enough tickets. If you have six or more points riding against your driver's license, you'll pay $100 a year extra for the first six points and $25 for each additional point after six. Yes, for three years.

    Remember, these surcharges are in addition to the fine you had to pay for the ticket in the first place.

    Habitual Violators

    Habitual violators are drivers who have accumulated four moving violations in a 12-month period or seven moving violations in a 24-month period. You can look forward to your license being suspended if you get this many citations.

    Beyond that, since moving violations earn either two or three points each, a habitual violator would be way over the six-point limit needed to trigger a Driver Responsibility Program surcharge. In other words, you'll be hit with hefty annual surcharges even while you're not allowed to drive.

    Related Questions from DMV Answers

    Our content is updated based on input from users like you. Help make it better!

    Give your input
    Products & Services Products & Services
    • Connect Utilities

      Connect Utilities

      Don't get left in the dark. Connect TV, Internet, Phone, Electricity, Natural Gas and more.

    • Credit Report

      Credit Report

      See who's been checking your credit. Look for potential inaccuracies and unauthorized activity.

    • Auto Loans

      Auto Loans

      Shop online for a competitive loan that offers affordable payments and low interest rates.

    • Boat Insurance

      Boat Insurance

      Find the best Boat Insurance policy that matches your boat and your budget.

    • Buying & Selling

      Buying & Selling

      Get the right price whether you are buying a new or used vehicle or selling your old set of wheels.

    Find Traffic Ticket Attorneys

    Fight your traffic ticket now!
    Free consultation from a local traffic ticket attorney. No office visits necessary. No court visits, either.

    State: Texas
    County:

    Traffic Attorneys for:
    DUI, Speeding, Disregarding a Red Light, Stop Sign Violation, Failure to Yield, Drivers License Violations, Failure to Appear in Court and more.


    TixNix

    Fight your traffic ticket now.