- Home
- Departments
- Municipal Court
- Disposition Options
- Driving Safety Course
Driving Safety Course
The Driving Safety Course option allows the defendant to complete a six-hour Texas Education Agency (TEA, now known as TDLR) certified course to keep a citation off their record. This option is available to a defendant every 12 months. Upon completion of the course, the defendant will bring the certificate of completion and a copy of their driving record to the Court as proof of compliance. Then, the citation will be dismissed and the only thing that is reported to the Department of Public Safety is the course completion date.
If you wish to exercise this option, you must notify the Court on or before the initial appearance date listed on your citation. Do not complete a Driving Safety Course until the Court permits you to do so. Request a Driving Safety Course.
Fee: $144 or $169 if the offense occurred in a school zone.
The following requirements must be met to be eligible to take the Driving Safety Course:
- Proof of a valid Texas Driver's License
- Proof of current liability insurance listing the defendant as an eligible driver
- Enter a plea or guilty or no contest
- The defendant could not have taken a Driving Safety Course within 12 months preceding the alleged offense date. You cannot be in the process of taking the course for another citation.
Additionally, you cannot be charged with any of the following offenses:
- Speeding 25 miles or more over the speed limit
- Passing a school bus
- Moving violations within a posted construction zone with workers present
- Committing a moving violation while operating a commercial motor vehicle
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Where can I get a copy of my Texas Driving Record to turn in with my Defensive Driving Course (DSC)?
-
You can obtain a certified copy of your Texas driving record instantly online for $12. If you prefer to mail in a request, a printable form is available on the official website for $10, though processing may take longer.
Certified List of All Accidents and Violations on Record (Type 3A): certified version of Type 3. This record is acceptable for Defensive Driving Course (DDC).
- Where can I take a Defensive Driving Course?
-
The driving safety course must be approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Court personnel cannot recommend a driving safety school. The yellow pages of your local phone directory usually contain a list of state-approved driving safety schools. There are also courses available online. Find more information about Driving Safety Courses.
- How do I enter a plea?
-
Any person who is charged with criminal act must decide upon and enter a plea on or before the appearance date on your citation. Here are the three pleas you may enter:
- No Contest. This plea means that you do not contest the State’s charge filed against you. With a plea of nolo contendre you will be found guilty, but it is not an admission by you that you are guilty. With this plea, it cannot be used against you in a civil suit for damages. When you enter this plea, you should be prepared to pay your fine in person or by mail.
- Guilty. This plea means that you are admitting that you committed the act charged, the act is against the law, and that you do not have an excuse or defense for the act. Before entering this plea, you should understand that when you enter a plea of guilty, you must pay the fine either by mail or in person.
- Not Guilty. This plea means that you deny guilt or you have a good defense in your case and that the State will have to prove what it has charged against you. If you plead not guilty, you have the right to a trial by Judge or a Jury. It is also your decision to hire an attorney to represent you in your case if you choose to do so. You do have the right to defend yourself, but if you choose to have someone else represent you only an attorney may represent you.
- The state has the burden of proving its case against you.
- You also have the right to hear the State’s evidence and to require it to prove its case against you.
- If there was a traffic accident, your plea of guilty may be used against you in a civil suit for damages incurred since you are admitting you are at fault or are the party responsible for the accident.