Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Texas

Fine-only traffic tickets are handled in justice or municipal courts. The defendant may plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest, orally or in writing as the court directs, and the notice to appear lists the answer date by which the driver must respond (including any request to take a driving safety course).

Traffic tickets (Class C misdemeanors) are handled by local justice and municipal courts, and payment, plea options and fine information come from the court assigned to the ticket. For a citation from the Texas Highway Patrol, the DPS "THP Citation Search" finds the court's contact information for citations issued within the last 24 months (search by driver license or ID number, date of birth and name, matching your license). For citations from other agencies, contact the issuing agency.

A driver charged with an eligible traffic misdemeanor can have the charge dismissed by completing a TDLR-approved driving safety course. To qualify, the driver must have a Texas license or permit (or be active-duty military or a military spouse or dependent), must not have completed a course in the 12 months before the offense, must show proof of financial responsibility, and must, on or before the answer date on the notice to appear, plead guilty or no contest and request the course. The court defers judgment and allows 90 days to complete the course. Not eligible: speeding 95 mph or more or 25 mph or more over the limit, serious traffic violations, and certain other offenses.

DPS suspends licenses for reasons including driving while suspended or without a license after denial, being a habitually reckless or negligent driver, being a habitual violator (4 moving violations in 12 months or 7 in 24), causing a crash with serious injury or damage, out-of-state offenses, and, for drivers under 18, two or more moving violations in 12 months. DWI convictions and failing or refusing a breath or blood test also lead to suspensions. Surcharge-only suspensions ended with the 2019 repeal of the Driver Responsibility Program, but other suspensions, fines, and fees still apply.