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Resolving Traffic Tickets
The first step to resolving your ticket is to read the instructions on the back of the citation given to you by the officer.
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 juvenile's mailing address, please contact the court.
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 17. On or before the 7th day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or parent shall notify the court of the current 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.
The department may waive the requirement to file evidence of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department. The evidence must show that at the time this citation was issued, the vehicle was covered by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.
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.
Subsequent Convictions
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 2nd 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 2 years from the date of conviction.
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 juvenile's mailing address, please 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 17. On or before the 7th day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the child or parent shall notify the court of the current 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.
Financial Responsibility Waiver
The department may waive the requirement to file evidence of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the department. The evidence must show that at the time this citation was issued, the vehicle was covered by a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.
Warnings
Juveniles
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.
Subsequent Convictions
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 2nd 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 2 years from the date of conviction.