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Traffic Tickets and Violations in Texas

Updated on Thu, 4/28/2011

Citations or traffic tickets are issued in the State of Texas for various violations of traffic law. Citations generally indicate the statute or code number of the violation, and explain how and when to pay the fine or respond to the ticket. You must respond to a citation, usually by paying a fine or appearing in court, or else a warrant may be issued for your arrest and your driving license may be suspended.

TYPES OF VIOLATIONS

Most traffic tickets in Texas are issued for what are sometimes called "strict-liability" offenses. In these cases, the only thing required to convict a person of the offense is proof that they committed the act, regardless of any criminal intent. Examples of strict-liability offenses include:

  • Speeding
  • Overdue parking meters
  • Not using turn signals
  • Parking in a handicapped zone without authorization

MOVING VS. NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS

Violations are also classified by whether or not the vehicle was in motion at the type of the incident, and traffic tickets may therefore be for either moving or non-moving violations. Examples of moving violations include: Non-Moving violations include:
  • Parking in a handicapped zone or other illegal parking
  • Driving with an invalid vehicle registration
  • Having expired or missing license plates
  • Leaving a vehicle unattended and running
The majority of traffic violations in Texas are classified as infractions, which require paying a fine ranging from $50 - $800. More serious offenses carry higher fines and/or imprisonment.

YOUR OPTIONS WHEN YOU RECEIVE A CITATION

Many citations do not require a court appearance, and you may admit guilt by paying the ticket directly. The citation will indicate how and by what date to pay the fine. Methods of payment differ from county to county or even from town to town. You can contact the court to find out the option available to you if this is not mentioned on the ticket. You can pay by cash, personal check, cashiers check, money order, debit or credit cards, depending on the court/offices. If you do not pay by the due date, your fine will increase and may even be doubled. Some counties and town allow you pay tickets online. Once again you will have to check with the court about this. In some case, the ticket will state that you must appear in court and that payment is not an option. You must appear in court personally on the scheduled date, and enter a "not guilty" plea. If you are under 18 years of age, you must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. While you may be able to negotiate with the prosecuting attorney, a trial will be scheduled if no agreement is reached. A trial gives you an opportunity to fight the traffic ticket in front of a judge or jury, and most people prefer to hire a traffic ticket lawyer to defend them in court. You might also want to contest the ticket if you feel a conviction will amount to surcharges being imposed.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF BEING FOUND GUILTY

When you pay a ticket directly, you are essentially pleading guilty to a traffic offense, which carries the same consequences as being found guilty of the violation in court. Motorists who either plead guilty directly or are found guilty of an offense should be aware of the following possible consequences:
  • Certain traffic offenses, including speeding and other moving violations, are automatically reported to the Texas Driver License Division. Texas routinely provides information concerning traffic ticket convictions to other states.
  • The Texas Department of Transportation follows a point system to track violations and their corresponding penalties. Points are added to your driving record which could result in your license being suspended. For more information, see our Point System section.
  • Texas drivers that accumulate points on their driving record are often subject to higher car insurance premiums.
  • If you frequently commit moving violations, you will be subject to the Driver Responsibility Program in Texas. Under this program you will have to pay a series of surcharges if you are guilty. This will be in addition to the fine you have to pay. More information on the program can be found here.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT TRAFFIC TICKET CONVICTIONS

One of the best ways to reduce the negative implications of traffic violations is to drive safely and not commit any additional offenses. Points on your Texas license will be reduced, and your driving record may eventually be cleared if you remain free of any additional violations. Smart drivers often choose to take a defensive driving course or traffic school course in order to reduce the points on their license more quickly. Taking a defensive driving course can also help lower the car insurance premiums of drivers whose rates increased following one or more traffic ticket convictions. Some drivers prefer to obtain a new quote for car insurance following a traffic ticket conviction, since often more competitive rates and coverage may be available.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION