Anyone know Texas law on speeding citations?

[mercanucaribe]

I need to know if I can do defensive driving. When I got a ticket for rolling through a stop sign about two years ago it was easy to find information. Now, it's impossible. The internet is flooded with commercial sites that want me to hire a lawyer.

So what I need to know is whether the <25mph over law applies to MUNICIPAL tickets, or if it's up to their discretion.

 

[nageov3t]

it's Texas... can't you just shoot the mayor and call it a day?

 

[orakle]

or bring a case of beer to the court room?

 

[brigden]

Tell the judge you were rushing to the hospital where your sister was giving birth to your baby.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

As long as it comes up as a traffic violation and not a felony charge you should be able to take defensive driving to have it removed from your record as long as you haven't had any other tickets in the last 365days. If you have had 1 other ticket in that span and already took defensive driving to have it removed from your record you can beg the judge for deferred adjudication (for >25mph it will likely be 6months or a year if he lets you do it), for the time span the judge says don't get any more tickets and the ticket will also be removed from your record. If you have a habit of getting a lot of tickets your best bet would likely be to eat it and stop breaking the law.

Texas's www.defensivedriving.com is a good way to take it, but I prefer the classes as most of them cheat (share answers) and you usually learn more in a classroom environment.

 

[HomerSapien]

I think it depends on the county as well on the 25>over. I had one where the speed limit dropped from 70 down to 45 going through a blip on the map and i wasnt able to take defensive driving. Their rule was anything over 24 you cannot take defensive driving no deferred, but that has been 6 years and i was also under 21 at the time so i may remember differently..You just have to call in and talk to the court and see how they are going to respond.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Well, life can suck, if there was any doubt. I thought the speed limit was 60 or so because the last sign I saw was one of the yellow corner ones that said 50. I thought I was going 65 in a 60, when really I was going 68 in a 45 . I really hope I can do the defensive driving. It's been about two years since last time so that wouldn't be a problem. At least in Texas it's about a $200 ticket, and not $500 and license suspension like the blue states!

 

[imported_Lucifer]

I live in San Antonio, and there is a place like 10 minutes from me that does defensive driving.

My brother had a few speeding tickets, cant remember how many but it was more than 1, and he was able to take defensive driving.

 

[mercanucaribe]

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/drive/dsinfo.html

TICKET DISMISSAL INFORMATION

If you have a Texas driver license or Permit and meet certain other requirements, Texas state law allows you to dismiss one traffic ticket every 12 months by taking a TEA-approved driving safety (a.k.a. defensive driving or ticket dismissal classes) course.

In order to dismiss a traffic citation by taking one of these classes, Texas law requires the following: you must NOT possess a Commercial Driver License (CDL); you must admit guilt or sign a statement that you do not contest the citation (nolo contendere); and if you were charged with speeding, the citation must state that it was not more than 25 miles above the posted speed limit. There are other criteria, and the court has the final decision on whether you'll be permitted to dismiss the ticket by completing a driving safety course.

Some municipal court judges and justices of the peace require you to contact the court before you take the driving safety course for purposes of ticket dismissal. Be sure to obtain the court's permission first. By contacting the court that is indicated on your traffic ticket, you may prevent delays, added expenses, or a requirement that you repeat the course.