Quick First Speeding Ticket Question

This is what is known as negative reinforcement.

Now you need deferred adjudication in one and defensive driving for the other. First try for DA in both, sometimes you can get away with that.

Might as well budget for a radar detector while you're at it

 

Wrong - you best try the area code for Del Rio. You might try re-setting your cruise control when you drive. You can run the speed limit and get to the end point easier than speeding and suffering the consequences and taking more time to reach that point.

Carol

Texas Speeding Ticket Cost
The fine for speeding in Texas starts at $120.00 for 5mph over and there is a graduated scale up to $185.00 for 25mph over. Above 25mph you have to contact the court. Some courts may also be allowed to add surcharges so the only way to know exactly is to contact the clerk of court.

Habitual Offender: A person who receives 4 or more moving violations in a period of 12 months, or 7 or more moving violations in a period of 24 months, is subject to having their license suspended.


Driver Responsibility Program

Points system

The Driver Responsibility law (in House bill 3588) establishes a system that assigns points to moving violations classified as Class C misdemeanors and applies surcharges to offenders, based on the type of offense and the time period in which the citation was received. For each conviction, DPS will assign points to a person’s license as follows:

Two points for a moving violation conviction in Texas or that of another state.
Points will not be assigned for speeding less than 10% over the posted limit or seat belt convictions.
Three points for a moving violation conviction in Texas or another state that resulted in a vehicle crash.
Points remain on the driver record for a period of three years. Additionally, a conviction that becomes final before September 1, 2003, will not apply to the assessment of points under the program. This program does not replace other administrative suspension, revocations or cancellation actions that result from these same convictions.

Driver surcharges

DPS will assess a surcharge when the driver accumulates a total of six points or more on their record during a three-year period. The driver must pay a $100 surcharge for the first six points and $25 for each additional point.

Annual surcharges for certain convictions

Drivers who receive a conviction for DWI or a DWI-related offense, failure to maintain financial responsibility or driving while license invalid will pay an annual surcharge for a period of three years. No points are placed on driver records for these offenses because the fine is automatic on the first offense.

A first-time DWI results in a $1,000 surcharge, paid annually for three years. A second-time DWI results in a $1,500 surcharge, paid annually for three years. The charges are cumulative. For example a driver could pay $1,000 as a result of their first DWI and an additional $1,500 for their second DWI, paying a total of $2,500 annually.

A conviction for driving while license is invalid or failure to maintain financial responsibility results in a surcharge of $250, paid annually for three years. A driver who is convicted of driving without a valid license receives a $100 per year surcharge for three years.

The surcharge assessed for this program is in addition to other reinstatement fees required for other administrative actions.

Driver notification of surcharge and license revocation

DPS will notify the offending driver of the assessment of a surcharge on their license, via first-class mail. The notice will state the surcharge must be paid. Drivers who do not pay their surcharge within 30 days after the notice is sent will have their driving privileges revoked. The license will remain revoked until the person pays all surcharges and related costs, such as service/collection fees.


The Driver Responsibility Program was passed into law as part of House bill 3588, article 10.

 

The one thing they won't do is dismiss it because they are tired of dealing with you, especially once the other ticket hits your record.

80 mph in a 65 zone is a pretty decent clip. Unfortunately you were breaking the law and they caught you. You might just consider not speeding. What is a couple of extra minutes to your destination worth compared to hundreds of dollars in fines and the time to mess with them?

 

The criminal courts have a funny way of impressing on you what is "busy" vs. "not busy".......

I'd spend the time required to sort it out.......geeez, worst case, pay the tickets and rack up the points.......

Holiday season is upon us, look for 'no tolerance' enforcement out there.

 

My question too! What's so hard with not speeding and not endangering someone else's life.

Big Tex - you are so absolutely correct with your statement reagrding the Holiday Season and NO TOLERANCE. The DWI enforcementwill be in full swing.

Guess the older you get the wiser you become.

Carol

 

Not sure if it is still true, but I do know that SOME suburban cities throw away the warrants after they are two years old. I KNOW that Carrollton, TX does this...first hand. I guess they figure that if they haven't caught you within 2 years, then you have been behaving yourself enough for them to drop it. I guess it isn't cost effective for them to hang on to it past that time period.

Some states do automatically suspend your license if you don't pay up, but have fun with your court date. Call & OFFER the prosecuter a "deal". They'll get horrified that you aren't shaking in your shoes & sh*tting your britches being faced with court & the judge (they seem to get their rocks off on the intimidation factor) and the fact that they like to be in control of any deal making. I've told a prosecutor, in the past, "Hey, it's a two-way street here. You aren't the only on that can propose a "deal", I mean you work in law enforcement & we all know what a for-profit business that is! So here's the deal, I give you $XXX & you throw the whole case file out. I have $XXX to spend here on this matter. Either the money is going in a lawyer's pocket to fight this...and win; or you city coffers....you decide.



My parole hearing comes up next week.

 

Yea, I passed a DPS officer parked on the shoulder, the other night...

I'm afraid I gotta side with the Texas Peace Officers on this one, we have way too many people out there totally disregarding prudent speeds for conditions....In my youth I don't recall the number of roll overs, fatalities, and multiple car incidents that now seem to be a part of daily life, here....

I'm sure within 5 minutes of my passing him, he was busy!!!!!

 

Does not sound normal to me. Can you contact the Sheriff in that area. Or maybe the Attorney General for the state. Or better yet, maybe the local news papers/TV would be interested in your story??

 

They got me last week.

Got a ticket for 80 in a 70 on I30 outside Greenville Texas. Picked me out of a group, I guess it was just my turn. I was probably overdue. The ironic thing is what we all did to that stretch of road a week before on the toy run.

 

Obviously, you've never been to Selma Texas!

Carol

 

I think he means he will accept your phone call as an "appearance"....not so strange when you consider the travel distance......consider it a gift!!

One time in Pineland, TX we had "court" on the stairs of the Jail....

"you two sit on the first step.....you two sit on the third step"......etc.

The the Judge came in and handled all the cases......then they let us all go cuz' they needed the cell space, for Saturday night!

Justice just looks different, in different places....I'd send the money......

 

In the past, you could pay the ticket offense CASH to the Court Clerk in Galveston, Texas ....and for some strange reason, it never was reported to Austin.....

That was before computers, though......way back there.........