Driver Safety Course Requests

You may request a driver safety course in person or by mail on or before your citation due date. If you fail to make your request and fulfill the requirements by the due date you will lose your ability to be granted a driver safety course.

To be eligible for the course:
  • you cannot have completed a defensive driving course for dismissal of a citation within the past 12 months
  • you cannot hold a Commercial Driver’s License (at the time of the citation or currently)
  • you must have a valid Texas Driver’s License
  • you must provide a copy of your current insurance policy (the policy must be in your name or you must be a listed driver on the policy)

 

There are some traffic offenses that are exceptions and defendants charged with those offenses are not eligible for a driving safety course.

The following traffic offenses make you ineligible to take a driving safety course:

  • offenses committed by a CDL holder (Article 45.0511(a), C.C.P.);
  • offenses committed in construction and maintenance zone when workers are present (Sections 472.002, 543.404, and 729.004, T.C.)
  • offense of speeding 25 miles or more over the posted limit (Article 45.0511(c)(4), C.C.P.);
  • offense of passing a school bus loading or unloading children; or
  • offense of leaving the scene of an accident (Sec. 550.022 or 550.023, T.C.)

Requests made in Person

  1. You will be required to sign an affidavit requesting the opportunity to take a defensive driving course for the dismissal of the citation, enter a plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendre (no contest) and sign a sworn statement that you have not completed a driver safety course within the last 12 months for dismissal of another offense and must be received by the court on or before your citation due date.

  2. Bring a copy of your current insurance policy (the insurance must be in your name or you must be a listed driver on the policy); and

  3. Bring your valid Texas driver's license.

  4. A $144.00 payment in the form of a cashier's check, check or money order.

  5. A $169.00 payment in the form of a cashier's check, check or money order if your violation is for use of cell phone or speeding in a school zone.

 

DSC Affidavit

download graphic

Requests by Certified Mail must include the Following:

  1. Signed and notarized affidavit requesting the opportunity to take a defensive driving course for the dismissal of the citation. Said request must include a plea of Guilty or Nolo Contendre (no contest) and a sworn statement that you have not completed a defensive driving course within the last 12 months for dismissal of another offense and must be received by the court on or before your citation due date.

  2. A copy of your citation or citation number

  3. A copy of your current insurance policy (the insurance must be in your name or you must be a listed driver on the policy)

  4. A copy of your valid Texas driver's license

  5. A $144.00 payment in the form of a cashier's check, check or money order. Do not put cash in the mail.

  6. A $169.00 payment in the form of a cashier's check, check or money order if your violation is for use of cellphone or speeding in a school zone.
**** All of these requirements must be submitted to the court on or before your citation due date.

Other Information:

Once your payment and request has been received and approved, your case will be put on a "DSC Hold" status and you will have 90 days to complete a TDLR approved driver safety course, submit your signed Driver Safety Course completion certificate and a certified copy of your driving record to the Court. You will receive notice of your 90 day deadline at the time of your request. If you make your request by mail you will receive a letter by mail with your 90 day deadline.

You may complete your course online or in person at a local restaurant as long as the course is administered by an instructor approved by the Texas Education Agency. You may search for approved courses on line at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/DESSearch/.

The driving record can be obtained from the Texas Department of Public Safety. This form is necessary to prove that you have not taken the course within the past 12 months. It takes approximately 3 to 6 weeks to get your driving record from the Department of Public Safety.


Or, you may now request your driving record on line at www.TexasOnline.com. The process for ordering a driver record online is simple. A person only needs information from their current driver license to complete the transaction. You should request Type 3A (the Certified Complete Driving History) and return this record with your course completion form by your 90 day deadline.

If you do not complete the course and submit the completion forms to the court in the time period prescribed, your case will be set for a show cause hearing by written notice to you and will be mailed to the last known address on file with the Court. It is your responsibility to update any address change with the Court. Failing to appear at the show cause hearing will result in a conviction on your driving record and the issuance of a capias pro fine warrant for your arrest.