Driving Safety Course (Not for commercial drivers license holders.)
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You may be able to request that a charge be dismissed by taking a driving safety course. However, you will lose that right if you do not provide written notice to the court of your desire to do so on or before your appearance date. A written notice is a notarized affidavit of eligibility or sworn request. Do NOT take the course until you have obtained permission from the court.
Eligibility requirements for Driving Safety Course are as follows:
1. You must enter a written plea of Guilty or No Contest (See Forms Below),
2. You must possess a valid Texas Driver's License,
3. You must possess Texas Liability Insurance valid the day of your request,
4. You must pay the State Cost and Administrative fee of $112.00 or $137 if the violation occured in a School Zone,
5. You can not be charged with speeding in excess of 24 miles per hour,
6. You can not currently be taking the course for another citation,7. You do not have a commerical driver's license,
8. You were not charged with a violation in a construction zone with workers present, and
9. Your driving record can not reflect completion of a driving safety course within the twelve months preceding the date of the alleged offense. After your Driver Safety Course Request has been APPROVED by the court, to request your Texas Driving Record online: click here
You must provide the court with a sworn affidavit of eligibility listing all seven requirements that must be notarized and filed with the court by your court date. If you appear in person at the Court Clerks Office, please bring your valid Texas driver's license, insurance proof (showing that you were covered the date you received the citation and the date of your request) and administrative fee payment. A Court Clerk will notarize the court's affidavit for you at no extra charge. Upon court approval to take the course, you will have ninety days in which to provide the court with the two following documents:
1. The "court certificate" of completion of the driving safety course from an agency approved by the Texas Education Agency and
2. A certified copy of your driving record as maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Please request this immediately, as it may take several weeks to receive.
If these two documents are not filed with the court within ninety days, you may be responsible for payment of the fine, thereby having the offense reported to your driving record and a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FORMS
You may obtain the required forms for this motion here: Sworn request Driver Safety Course