Receiving a citation in Irving, Texas, whether it’s for a traffic violation, a city ordinance infraction, or another minor offense, can be unsettling. Your immediate thought might be to just pay the fine and move on. However, understanding your rights and the various options available in Irving Municipal Court can significantly impact your driving record, financial standing, and even your future.
Irving Ticket Defense Lawyer
The Irving Municipal Court is located at 305 N. O’Connor Road, Irving, TX 75061. When you’re issued a citation, you have a limited amount of time to respond to the court. It’s crucial to act promptly to avoid additional penalties, like warrants for arrest.
At Beltz Law Group, we regularly assist clients with citations in Irving Municipal Court. We can help you navigate the process and choose the best path forward. Here’s an outline of your common options:
Option 1: Plead Not Guilty and Set Your Case for Trial
If you believe you are innocent of the charges, or if there are extenuating circumstances, you have the right to plead “Not Guilty” and request a trial. This means the City of Irving will have to prove the charge against you beyond a reasonable doubt.
When you plead not guilty, you generally have two choices for your trial:
- Jury Trial: In a jury trial, a panel of six citizens from the community will hear the evidence presented by both the prosecution and your defense. They will then deliberate and decide whether the City has proven your guilt. This option can be beneficial if you believe a group of your peers will be more sympathetic to your situation or if there are factual disputes.
- Trial Before the Judge (Bench Trial): In this scenario, the municipal court judge alone will hear all the evidence and arguments. The judge will then make the determination of guilt or innocence. A bench trial can sometimes be a quicker process than a jury trial.
Choosing to go to trial means you will have the opportunity to present your side of the story, cross-examine witnesses, and challenge the evidence against you.
Option 2: Plead Guilty or No Contest
If you admit to the offense or choose not to dispute it, you can enter a plea of “Guilty” or “No Contest” (Nolo Contendere).
- Guilty Plea: By pleading guilty, you formally admit that you committed the offense as charged. The court will then typically assess the fine and court costs.
- No Contest Plea (Nolo Contendere): A plea of “no contest” means you are not admitting guilt but you are not disputing the charge either. For traffic offenses, the legal effect in municipal court is generally the same as a guilty plea in terms of fines and costs. However, a “no contest” plea may offer some limited protection in a subsequent civil lawsuit related to the incident, as it cannot typically be used as an admission of fault in that civil proceeding.
Irving Ticket Attorney
While pleading guilty or no contest resolves the immediate issue of the citation, it results in a conviction on your record, which can have further consequences.
Options to Protect Your Driving Record (Even with a Guilty/No Contest Plea)
Even if you decide to plead guilty or no contest, there are often ways to prevent the citation from appearing on your public driving record, thereby avoiding potential insurance rate increases and other negative impacts. These options are usually at the discretion of the judge and prosecutor:
- Deferred Disposition (Court Supervision/Probation): This is a very common and effective way to keep a conviction off your record. If granted, you will enter a plea of guilty or no contest, but the judge will “defer” (postpone) entering a final judgment. You will then be placed on a probationary period (typically 90-180 days) during which you must comply with certain conditions, such as:
- Paying court costs and a special expense fee.
- Not receiving any new citations during the deferral period.
- Potentially completing a driver safety course if you are under 25 years old.
- Once you successfully complete all conditions, the case will be dismissed, and no conviction will appear on your driving record.
- Driver Safety Course (Defensive Driving): For eligible traffic violations, you may be able to request that the charge be dismissed by completing an approved driver safety course. To be eligible, you typically cannot have taken a defensive driving course for dismissal within the past 12 months, and there are often restrictions based on the severity of the offense (e.g., speeding too far over the limit may disqualify you). You will also likely need to pay court costs and a state-mandated administrative fee. Upon successful completion of the course and submission of your certificate and driving record, the citation will be dismissed.
It’s important to note that you usually cannot combine Deferred Disposition and a Driver Safety Course for the same citation. You generally choose one or the other if eligible.
Where to File for an Occupational Driver License in Irving
How Beltz Law Group Can Help
Navigating the options in Irving Municipal Court can be confusing, and choosing the wrong path can have long-term consequences. The attorneys at Beltz Law Group are experienced in defending clients facing citations in Irving and throughout North Texas.
We can assist you with all the options outlined above:
- Advising on your best course of action: We’ll review your specific citation and circumstances to recommend whether pleading not guilty, seeking deferred disposition, or taking a driver safety course is in your best interest.
- Representing you in court: In many cases, our attorneys can appear on your behalf, saving you time and stress.
- Negotiating with the prosecutor: We can work to secure the best possible terms for deferred disposition or other agreements.
- Preparing for and representing you at trial: If you choose to fight your citation, we will build a strong defense and advocate fiercely for you in a jury or bench trial.
- Helping you navigate the requirements for deferred disposition or driver safety courses: We can ensure you understand and meet all the necessary steps to get your case dismissed.
Don’t let an Irving citation become a stain on your record or lead to unnecessary financial burdens. Contact the Beltz Law Group today for a consultation to discuss your options and let us put our experience to work for you.
Contact Beltz Law Group at 214-321-4105 for assistance with your Irving Municipal Court citation.
