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What To Do When You Get A Speeding Ticket In Texas

speeding

So you are the recipient of a speeding ticket in Dallas. Oftentimes, this is an annoying, frustrating, and time-consuming experience. Many Texas drivers incorrectly assume that simply paying the ticket is the easiest and most economical way to close the case.  Not so fast!  Paying the fine is an admission of guilt in the state of Texas, and the guilty judgment will be entered as a conviction on your driving record.  There are other options to consider, such as speaking to our Dallas speeding ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP. We have experience in fighting speeding tickets and will fight on your behalf to obtain a favorable resolution.

Consequences For A Texas Speeding Ticket Conviction

In Texas, the consequences for a speeding ticket conviction can vary.  In Texas, the consequences for a speeding ticket conviction depend on how severe the charge is. If you ignore the traffic violation or neglect to timely handle the ticket, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.  You can then be arrested.

In addition to the fine payments, traffic ticket convictions can cause points to accrue on your driving record. If you accrue too many points, you may be at risk of having the State of Texas suspend your driver’s license. You will be deemed a habitual violator, and the Texas Department of Public Safety will send you notice that they intend to suspend your license. If you receive this notice, please immediately contact our office and we can file a response to the letter and request a hearing to fight for your right to legally operate a motor vehicle on a public roadway. Our office has successfully handled hundreds of Driver’s License Suspension Hearings, and we will do our best to keep you on the road.

Forbes Magazine reports that an average speeding ticket for 10 MPH over the posted speed limit in Texas is approximately $223.

Please note that if you are a commercial truck driver or in an occupation that requires an excellent driving record, your job could be at risk if you get convicted of a speeding violation. Many employers require clean driving records for Commercial Driver License holders.

Potential Actions To Take After Getting A Texas Speeding Ticket

First, review the ticket and see how long you have to resolve the situation. The ticket will specify the appearance date – either a specific date or so many days after the date of the stop.  If you do not respond within the required time period, the ticket will go into warrant status.  You will be subject to arrest, and court fees will increase.

Paying The Ticket

Do not pay your ticket outright.  The best action to take is to consult with our speeding ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP who can review your ticket and best advise you on how to proceed.  Do not attempt to comprehend traffic ticket law on your own and address your ticket pro se, i.e., represent yourself without a lawyer.

Contest The Ticket In Court

Instead of paying the fine outright, you could plead not guilty and contest the ticket in court. You could represent yourself in court, but the chances of success are uncertain, especially if you are unfamiliar with criminal defense, rules of evidence, or local court procedures.

The best option is to hire our speeding ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP to handle the matter.  They have years of experience and know the best way to protect your rights.

Deferred Disposition

If the Court grants your request for deferred disposition, formerly known as deferred adjudication, you plead guilty or no contest to the charge and pay the required fees. It is not that simple, however.  There could be additional requirements to complete.  But if you fail to fulfill the terms, a judgment of guilt will be entered on your driving record, resulting in points on your license and possibly additional fees.

Note that you cannot always obtain deferred disposition. Some examples where this is not an option are:

  • You already have a deferral from another traffic court.
  • You have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
  • The speeding violation resulted in an accident.
  • Your speeding offense occurred in a construction zone with workers present.

It is in your best interest to retain the experienced traffic lawyers at Anderson & Anderson, LLP who understand traffic law and can best advise you on deferred disposition.  Do not attempt to represent yourself as you may not fully understand how to successfully request deferred disposition and how to complete the requirements of deferred disposition.

Driver Safety Class

Another option when you get a Texas speeding ticket is to ask for a state-approved driving safety class; however, there is a very specific procedure for choosing this option. To be eligible for a driver safety class, you must meet these criteria:

  • Have a valid driver’s license in Texas.
  • Not have taken a driver’s safety class in the last year.
  • Not be taking a driving class for another traffic violation.
  • Not driving at 95 MPH or more.
  • Not speeding in a construction area with construction workers there.
  • Not have been speeding when you were passing a school bus.
  • Not have been speeding over the limit by 25 MPH or more.

The Court might have additional requirements in addition to completing a driving safety class, i.e., submitting your driving record.  If you do not complete each requirement, a judgement of guilt will be entered on your driving record.

Avoid the confusion of adhering to every requirement for a driving safety class, and call Anderson & Anderson, LLP.  We will save you the hassle of completing the many requirements of dismissal through a driving safety course.

Contact Our Dallas Speeding Ticket Lawyers For Assistance

If you have been issued a Dallas speeding ticket, do not simply pay the fine without a fight. Instead, speak to our Dallas speeding ticket lawyers today at (214) 370-8260. Our attorneys will review your case and determine the best way to fight the ticket and obtain the best possible disposition.  Our ticket attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP have represented thousands of Texans with speeding tickets in the last 20 years. Much of our current legal business is based on referrals from satisfied speeding ticket clients.  Let us assist you with your case.

Our speeding ticket attorney Bradley Anderson has been named a Texas Rising Star four times; only 2.5% of Texas attorneys obtain this distinction. In addition to this accolade, he has been a D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas nine times.  He has an excellent record of fighting misdemeanor charges on behalf of his clients, including speeding tickets.

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Consequences Of Ignoring Speeding Tickets In Texas

ignoring speeding tickets

Keeping a valid driver’s license is important if you want to drive freely and legally in the United States. However, if you get a Texas speeding ticket and have a DPS failure to appear, you could lose your license and suffer other consequences outlined below. If this has happened to you, talk to our Dallas County traffic warrant defense attorneys at Anderson & Anderson, LLP.

Higher Fines

The first consequence of ignoring a speeding ticket in Texas is having a warrant issued for your arrest and having to pay higher fees. Speeding is a Class C Misdemeanor that must be addressed immediately. When the ticket is unpaid, Dallas County will add additional penalties. Fines could increase.

The worst thing to do if you cannot pay for the ticket is to ignore it. You might decide to handle the ticket on your own – pro se. You show up for your court appearance and tell the judge you cannot pay for the ticket. The court might set up affordable monthly payments so you can pay the ticket and avoid other unpleasant consequences, such as a DPS failure to appear charge and OMNI hold. However, a payment plan might result in a conviction on your driving.

Instead of trying to handle this pro se, contact our experienced traffic ticket lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP who can assist you with OMNI holds and SCOFFLAW issues.

OMNI Hold And Scofflaw

If not resolved and the citation turns into a warrant, some courts will place an OMNI hold on your driver’s license. You will not be able to renew your license until the speeding ticket is addressed and the OMNI hold paid and lifted.

Our experienced traffic ticket lawyers can help you with the OMNI hold. We can post bonds to have the warrants lifted and advise you on when the OMNI hold can be paid. Each court has a specific time table for removing OMNI holds.

A Texas-related program is SCOFFLAW, which is in Section 502.185 of the Texas Transportation Code. It allows the Court to place a hold on your car registration if you owe the city or county money for traffic tickets. You can only remove the registration block if you resolve your outstanding traffic issues.

Our experienced traffic ticket lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP can assist you with OMNI holds and SCOFFLAW issues.

Arrest Warrant

If you continue to fail to pay the speeding ticket, Dallas County may put out a warrant for your arrest. You now face the possibility of being arrested and put in jail. If this happens, contact our lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP immediately. defense attorney immediately.

Driving Record Points

If not handled properly, a conviction will be entered on your driving and points will be placed on your driving record. While many drivers do not think about traffic points often, the more you have, the worse the consequences. More points may mean a greater chance of a driver’s license suspension, higher auto insurance rates, and more fines and fees.

Future Negative Consequences

It also is worth thinking about the future consequences of not resolving a Texas speeding ticket. If you move to another state, do not assume the ticket in Texas will be forgotten. Almost every state participates in the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NVRC), which allows states to share information about license suspensions and traffic violations. The last thing you want is to move out of state and discover you cannot get a driver’s license or register a car in that state because of an unpaid speeding ticket.

Avoid this potential problem, and contact our experienced traffic ticket lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP.

What To Do Instead Of Not Paying The Speeding Ticket

No one wants to pay a speeding ticket. But it is always best to deal with the situation head-on to avoid more fines, driver’s license suspension, and a traffic warrant. Here are your options:

Pay The Ticket In Full

Yes, paying the speeding ticket in full will close your case. You might think that if you cannot pay it all at once, you can just go to court and tell the judge you want a payment plan. However, paying the ticket means you pleaded ‘no contest,’ which is similar to pleading guilty in the eyes of the law. In addition, your driving record will be updated with the conviction, points will be added to your driving record, and your insurance rates may increase.

Take A Defensive Driving Course

You can take a defensive driving course in Texas to avoid some consequences of a speeding ticket. You can take one defensive driving course every twelve months in Texas to get a ticket dismissed, but you must remember to contact the Court first and make the request. If the Dallas County judge grants the request, you must then pay the Court fees. Then, you must pay the driving safety course fee, complete the course, and send the Certificate of Completion along with your driving record to the Court before the deadline.

Avoid this hassle, and contact our experienced traffic ticket lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP.

Plead Not Guilty

If you think the police officer was wrong or you were not speeding, you can always take the case to trial. However, if you decide to represent yourself, the judge will not make it easy on you. Pro se defendants are held to the same standard as an attorney.

Instead, contact our experienced traffic ticket lawyers at ANDERSON & ANDERSON, LLP.

Contact Our Dallas County Traffic Warrant Defense Attorneys

Not paying a Texas speeding ticket has many consequences, including fines, driver’s license suspension, warrants for your arrest, and even jail time. If you are worried about an unpaid speeding ticket, speak to our Dallas County traffic warrant defense attorneys today at (214) 370-8260.