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Dismissals

(Also see Driving Safety and Deferred Disposition)

Some cases for specific violations such as those listed below may be dismissed depending on various legal circumstances. Usually, if the violation is “fixed” and/or proof is shown by the appearance date on your citation, the case can be dismissed. The various legal circumstances for dismissal cannot all be listed here and there are other violations that may be dismissed. The ones below are the most common. If you need legal advice, please obtain the services of an attorney licensed in Texas. Municipal court clerks cannot provide legal advice.

Violation	“Get Proof to Court by” Date	Your Tasks	Court Fee
“No insurance”	Any time, even if an arrest warrant has been issued (which will happen if you have not contacted the court by the appearance date on your citation)	1. Show proof that you had appropriate insurance on the date/time of violation 2. Proof must identify either you by name or the vehicle listed on the citation Note: Insurance documents will be verified by Court with insurance company prior to dismissal	None
No license plate or one license plate	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show registration that was current on the date/time of violation 2. Both plates must be on the vehicle when you come to court 3. Registration must identify the same vehicle as listed on the citation	$10
Display altered, unclean or obscured license plates	Appearance date on your citation	1. Bring pictures of front and back plates on the same vehicle as listed on the citation; or 2. Sign an affidavit at court that this violation has been corrected	$10
Fail to display driver license	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof that your driver license was valid on the date/time of violation for the type of vehicle you were driving	$10
Expired driver license	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof that you renewed your driver license on or before the appearance date on your citation	$20
No driver license	Any time, even if an arrest warrant has been issued (which will happen if you have not contacted the court by the appearance date on your citation)	1. Show proof that you had a valid driver license on the date/time of the violation as shown on the citation	None
Fail to change address on driver license	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof that you went to the Texas Department of Public Safety and got your address changed on or before the appearance date on your citation 2. Show proof that the “new address” is the one at which you currently live (such as utility bill)	$20
Driving while license invalid	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof that your driver license was actually valid at the date/time of violation as shown on the citation 2. Proof is a copy of your driving record provided by DPS	None
Expired inspection (less than 60 days expired)	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof of vehicle inspection and that the vehicle passed on or before the appearance date on your citation 2. Proof must identify the same vehicle as listed on the citation (Checking to see if this applies to commercial vehicle)	$20
Expired inspection (more than 60 days)	Appearance date on your citation	1. Show proof of vehicle inspection and that the vehicle passed on or before the appearance date on your citation 2. Proof must identify the same vehicle as listed on the citation (Checking to see if this applies to commercial vehicle)	None
No child safety seat	Appearance date on your citation	1. Provide proof on or before the appearance date 2. Proof consists of a receipt that specifically states that an appropriate child safety seat was purchased OR Bring the actual safety seat into court	None
Defective equipment	Appearance date on your citation	1. Provide proof that the defect was corrected (see list below) 2. Proof must identify the same vehicle as listed on the citation and for the violation listed 3. This dismissal does NOT apply to commercial vehicles	$10
Operate motorcycle without helmet	Appearance date on your citation	1. Present your driver license showing that you were at least 21 years of age on the date/time of your citation 2. Present a health insurance card with your name listed that was valid on the date/time of your citation	None

Some Defective Equipment. This list is the most common offenses and should not be considered comprehensive.

Brakes	Parking lamps (lights)
Exhaust Emission system	Stop lamps (lights)
Head lamps (lights)	Tail lamps (lights)
Headlight beam indicator	Sunscreening Device (unauthorized)
License plate lamp (lights)	Television/video improperly located
Mirror violation	Turn signals
Muffler	Windshield Wiper(s)
Obstructed view through window(s)	Wrong color lights
Parking brakes

If the violation on your citation is not listed here, you may be eligible to have it dismissed by taking a driving safety course (click) or deferred disposition (click). Again, if you need legal advice, please contact an attorney. One will not be provided by the court.

Please call (512) 974-4800 or go to any of our three locations (click on “locations” to take to locations WEB site) for more information.


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