Resolving Traffic Tickets

Follow the Directions

The first step to resolving your ticket is to read the instructions on the back of the green copy of the citation given to you by the officer. The back of your ticket contains a lot of information on how to resolve your citation.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUVENILES: If you are under 17 years of age you must appear before a judge. You will be notified by mail when to appear with your parent or guardian. Do not mail the fine payment due. If your address on the citation is not the juveniles mailing address contact the court.

OBLIGATION NOTICE Subsections (h) and (I) of Article 45.057, Code of Criminal procedure

(h) A child and parent required to appear before the court have an obligation to provide the court in writing with the current address and residence of the child. The obligation does not end when the child reaches age 1.7. On or before the seventh day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or parent shall notify the court of the cur- rent address in the manner directed by the court. A violation of this subsection may result in arrest and" is a Class C misdemeanor. The obligation to provide notice terminates or discharge and satisfaction of the judgment or final disposition not requiring a finding of guilt.

(i) If an appellate court accepts an appeal for a trial de novo, the child and parent shall provide the notice under Subsection (h) to the appellate court.

Warning: If you were accused of criminal offense before your 17th birthday and have failed to make an appearance or enter a plea in that matter, as an adult, you have a continuing obligation to appear in the case. Failure to appear as required may be an additional criminal offense and result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.

Make a Plea

After you are issued a traffic citation, you must enter a plea by the appearance date located at the bottom of your citation. You have three options; you may enter a plea of:

Nolo Contendere (No Contest)
Guilty
Not Guilty

for each violation shown on your ticket.

Please Note: You may be issued more than one violation per citation. You may enter a plea on each violation by signing the back of the green citation. Remember, only the person who received the ticket can sign the plea form. You can make your plea either in person, by mail, or on-line.

Nolo Contendere (No Contest)
A plea of nolo contendere means that you do not contest the charges filed against you and you are waiving your right to a trial by judge or jury.

When you enter a "No Contest" plea, you must pay the fine specified for the violation. Either bring or mail the fine payment to the Court. Payment must be received before your due date at the bottom of your ticket.

Guilty
By entering a plea of guilty, you admit that the act is prohibited by law, that you committed the act charged, and you are waiving your right to a trial by judge or jury.

When you plead guilty to a violation, you must pay the fine specified for the violation. Either bring or mail the fine payment to the Court. Payment must be received before your due date at the bottom of your ticket.

Not Guilty
A plea of not guilty means that you are informing the Court that you are not guilty of the offense in which you were accused. You must plead not guilty in the presence of the Judge in open court. When entering a plea of Not Guilty please inform the Judge whether you want a trial by judge or jury.

What Happens If I Do Not Make a Plea or Ignore My Ticket?

If you fail to make a plea for each violation shown on your ticket, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. For more information on warrants and how to resolve them, please refer to the Warrants page.

Notice

A conviction of an offense under a traffic law of this state or a political subdivision of this state may result in the assessment of your driver's license of a surcharge under the Driver Responsibility Program

A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act will result in the suspension of your driver's license and motor vehicle registration unless you file and maintain evidence of financial responsibility with the Department of Public safety for two years from the date of conviction. The department may waive the requirement to file evidence of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department showing that at the time this citation was issued,. the vehicle was covered by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exen1pt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.


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