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Pleas & Payment Options
Overview
Following are options to take care of a traffic ticket:
- PAY FINE ONLINE (Citation and Identification Information required)
- Deferred Disposition (Probation) must be Court Approved see section below.
- Driving Safety Course (DSC) must be Court Approved see section below.
- Dismissal (Click on link to the left) .
Convictions for moving violations are reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Payments may be made before your court date, in person, by mail, online, or after hours by using the drop box located in front of City Hall. Municipal Court payments may be made by cash, check, money order, or Visa, MasterCard, and Discover (a 2.5% credit card processing fee applies).
Online Payments third-party vendor charges an additional $1.50 transaction fee for this service.
Pleas Overview
Under our American system of justice, all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Your decision concerning which plea you enter is very important. Below are explanations of all three types of pleas.
Guilty
A plea of guilty means that you admit that you committed the offense charged against you and accept the court’s punishment. Your options are:
- Pay the Fine.
- If eligible, request to take a drivers safety course.
- If eligible, request deferred disposition.
- If eligible, Extension to Pay and/or Payment Plan
Nolo Contendere (No Contest)
A plea of nolo contendere means that you do not contest the state’s charge against you. The court can find you guilty and assess punishment. Your options are:
- Pay the Fine.
- If eligible, request to take a drivers safety course.
- If eligible, request deferred disposition.
- If eligible, Extension to Pay and/or Payment Plan
The following citations may be dismissed upon the corrective action performed as detailed below and proof provided to the Court by the defendant:
Expired Motor Vehicle Registration must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the offense or before the first court appearance, whichever is later. There is a dismissal fee of $20 if proof of penalty is paid at tax office.
Expired Driver’s License must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the offense or before the first court appearance, whichever is later. The dismissal fee is $20.
Failure to Report Change of Address or Name must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the date of offense. The dismissal fee is $20.
Failure to Maintain Insurance may be dismissed at no charge, if proof of financial responsibility covering the vehicle listed on the citation is provided on or before the first court appearance. The policy must be in effect at the date and time of the citation was issued. The proof should be an insurance card or a policy with a name and telephone number of the listing agent. All policies will be verified prior to dismissal.
Operating a Vehicle with Defective Required Equipment (or in unsafe condition) such as a lighting violation, must be corrected before first court appearance. The dismissal fee is $10.
Expired Motor Vehicle Registration must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the offense or before the first court appearance, whichever is later. There is a dismissal fee of $20 if proof of penalty is paid at tax office.
Expired Driver’s License must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the offense or before the first court appearance, whichever is later. The dismissal fee is $20.
Failure to Report Change of Address or Name must be corrected no more than 20 working days after the date of offense. The dismissal fee is $20.
Failure to Maintain Insurance may be dismissed at no charge, if proof of financial responsibility covering the vehicle listed on the citation is provided on or before the first court appearance. The policy must be in effect at the date and time of the citation was issued. The proof should be an insurance card or a policy with a name and telephone number of the listing agent. All policies will be verified prior to dismissal.
Operating a Vehicle with Defective Required Equipment (or in unsafe condition) such as a lighting violation, must be corrected before first court appearance. The dismissal fee is $10.
Not Guilty
A plea of not guilty means that you deny guilt and the State must prove the charge that is filed against you. If you plead not guilty, you will need to decide whether to hire an attorney to represent you. If you choose to represent yourself, you are held to the same standards of the prosecutor.