Last Updated on June 18, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Driver License Suspension Lawyers
The Hidden Danger: Why Paying Off Old Tickets to Remove an OMNI Hold Can Cost You More
When a hold is placed on your driver’s license renewal in Texas due to unresolved traffic tickets, it can feel like a frustrating roadblock. Many people, eager to get their license renewed, simply pay off the outstanding tickets online or at the court. While this will remove the “OMNI hold,” it’s a common mistake that can lead to far greater financial harm and jeopardize your driving privileges in the long run.
Our North Texas traffic ticket lawyers have seen countless individuals fall into this trap, inadvertently causing severe consequences that outweigh the initial hassle of the OMNI hold. This article explains why simply paying off old tickets is often the wrong approach and what steps you should take instead to protect your driving record and finances. If you need assistance removing a hold on your ability to renew your driver’s license after reading this article, feel free to contact our driver license suspension lawyers at 214-321-4105.
Understanding the Texas Failure to Appear / Failure to Pay (FTAP) Program (OMNI Holds)
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) utilizes the Texas Failure to Appear / Failure to Pay (FTAP) Program, often managed by OmniBase Services of Texas, to enforce compliance with court orders.
The official statement from the DPS on this program is clear:
“Under the Failure to Appear / Failure to Pay Program, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) may deny the renewal of a driver license if an individual has failed to appear for a citation or failed to satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine. The driver license may not be renewed until the individual’s driver record is cleared of all offenses reported to DPS by the court.”
In essence, an OMNI hold is a consequence of non-compliance with a court, not necessarily an admission of guilt for the original offense. It means you either failed to appear by your court date or failed to pay a fine as ordered.
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The Problem: Paying Off Tickets = Convictions
Here’s the critical piece of information many people miss: In Texas, when you simply pay a fine for a traffic ticket (especially one that has gone past due), it is generally considered a plea of “guilty” or “nolo contendere” (no contest) and results in a conviction on your permanent driving record. This is outlined in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 27.14(c), which states that “payment of a fine or an amount accepted by the court constitutes a finding of guilty in open court as though a plea of nolo contendere had been entered by the defendant and constitutes a waiver of a jury trial in writing.”
While paying the fine will clear the OMNI hold and allow you to renew your license, it often triggers a cascade of far more damaging long-term consequences:
- Soaring Insurance Premiums: Insurance companies regularly check your driving record. Every conviction reported to the DPS signals increased risk, leading to significant hikes in your auto insurance rates. Even a single conviction can increase your premiums by an average of 10-25%, and multiple convictions can cause them to skyrocket, costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over several years.
- Driver License Suspension: While the old Driver Responsibility Program and its associated surcharges were repealed in 2019, Texas still has strict rules about accumulating convictions. Your driver’s license can be suspended if you are convicted of:
- Four or more moving traffic violations within a 12-month period, or
- Seven or more moving traffic violations within a 24-month period. If you pay off several old tickets at once to clear an OMNI hold, you could inadvertently trigger a license suspension based on these accumulation rules, putting you in a worse position than having just the OMNI hold.
- Future Employment Issues: For jobs that involve driving or require a clean background check, traffic convictions on your record can be a significant hurdle.
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The Proper Way to Remove an OMNI Hold (and Protect Your Record)
The goal should not just be to remove the OMNI hold, but to do so in a way that prevents convictions from appearing on your driving record. This requires a strategic approach, which is why hiring an experienced traffic ticket lawyer is highly recommended.
The proper method involves a two-step process:
- Lift the Warrant(s) by Filing an Appearance Bond:
- For each unaddressed traffic ticket, a court will typically issue a warrant for your arrest.
- An attorney can file an Appearance Bond with the court. This crucial step legally removes the warrant, eliminates the immediate threat of arrest, and re-opens the case, as if it were never past due. This buys you time and allows your attorney to work towards a non-conviction outcome for the original ticket.
- Pay the OMNI Fee:
- Once the warrant is lifted for each specific case, an administrative “OMNI fee” ($10 per reported offense) must be paid to the state. This fee is separate from any fines for the original ticket.
- After the OMNI fee is paid, the court notifies DPS to remove the hold on your license renewal.
Once the OMNI hold is cleared, your attorney can then work to resolve the underlying traffic tickets without a conviction. This often involves seeking outcomes like:
- Deferred Disposition: The court defers finding you guilty for a probationary period (e.g., 90 days). If you meet the terms (e.g., pay court costs, no new tickets), the case is dismissed and not reported as a conviction.
- Defensive Driving Course: For eligible offenses, completing a state-approved defensive driving course can lead to dismissal.
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Hire a Lawyer for OMNI Holds on Your Driver’s License
The bottom line is that if you have an OMNI hold on your ability to renew your license due to old traffic tickets, you should seek legal advice before taking any action. What seems like a simple fix (just paying the tickets) can lead to far greater problems and expense in the long run.
The OMNI hold itself is an administrative hurdle. The real danger lies in how you clear it. By allowing an attorney to file appearance bonds and represent you, you can:
- Protect your driving record from convictions.
- Avoid skyrocketing insurance rates.
- Prevent driver’s license suspension due to conviction accumulation.
- Remove any associated arrest warrants.
Don’t try to cut corners by simply paying the court off to get the hold removed, as this could lead to a very damaging result. We strongly suggest you contact our driver license suspension lawyers today to discuss your individual case at 214-321-4105. It could save you thousands of dollars and preserve your driving privileges.
