Texas has some strict driving laws, so you'd better be careful when out on the road. If for some reason you were inattentive and did actually get a ticket, there's no need to panic. There are things you can do to help yourself out with reduced fines and points. The number one thing you can to help your case is take a defensive driving course with an approved traffic school in Texas. Not only can these reduce the fines associated with a ticket, but these courses can also have the points erased from your record.
Texas Defensive Driving
There are a few reasons you should consider taking a defensive driving course in Texas. Some reasons include:
- You want to erase points from your driving record.
- You want a lowered car insurance premium.
- You need to satisfy court requirements.
There will be a few different types of traffic school courses to pick from depending on your specific situation.
Texas Traffic Schools
These defensive driving classes can be done using private driving associations or with providers that are recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may be available for online course participation. Either way will work, but the online way is much more convenient for many people. You can determine your own schedule for completing the components of the course.
Typically, when taking an online course, you will be required to finish it within a specified period of time, which is usually six months. Not completing the course in those six months means you fail and are not eligible for a refund.
Types of Texas Traffic School Courses
If you've received a traffic ticket in the state of Texas, you likely will want to do everything you can to have it dismissed. Therefore, a defensive driving course should be your first option if your ticket is able to be dismissed. If you're not sure whether or not your ticket is eligible for dismissal, call the court that has issued your ticket.
Generally, the following requirements are needed to be eligible for dismissal:
- The vehicle you were pulled over in must have been a personal vehicle, not commercial.
- You've not participated in a defensive driving course in the past 12 months.
- Your driver's license is current in the state of Texas.
- Your ticket cannot have been for:
- Going 25+ mph above the posted limit.
- Driving 95+ mph.
- Illegally passing a school bus.
- A serious offense.
- Leaving an accident scene without helping or giving your information.
- A work zone violation when people were working.
When you dismiss a ticket, you also eliminate the risk of your insurance rates shooting up, plus you will have the points taken off your license.
It's pretty awesome that there's a process for helping you dismiss a traffic ticket, so you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity. Texas wants to keep the roads as safe as possible, which is why they make this defensive driving course an option. You can save money and keep your driving record clean with completion of a course that is definitely worth the time and effort. Make sure you check with your court or insurance company to ensure you are eligible for these benefits before signing up.
- Explore our comprehensive guide on Texas driving records: Everything you need to know about maintaining a clean driving history and understanding your records."
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