Last Updated on June 19, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Removing OMNI Hold On Driver License
In Texas, courts have several tools to encourage timely resolution of traffic tickets. These include issuing warrants for arrest and, critically, placing an OMNI hold on a person’s driver’s license renewal. Some courts may use one method, others both, depending on their local policies.
This article outlines the legal authority behind the OMNIBASE system in Texas and explains the proper way to clear a driver’s license hold. If, after reading, you wish to speak with a lawyer about removing a hold on your driver’s license due to outstanding traffic tickets, please contact our office at 214-321-4105.
The Legal Authority for Driver’s License Holds in Texas
For a court to legally place an OMNI hold on your driver’s license, the original citation for the traffic offense must include a specific statutory warning. This warning informs you that if you fail to appear in court or fail to pay/satisfy a judgment, your driver’s license renewal may be denied.
This requirement is mandated by Texas Transportation Code Section 706.003, “Warning; Citation.”
- (a) If a political subdivision has contracted with the department, a peace officer authorized to issue a citation in the jurisdiction of the political subdivision shall issue a written warning to each person to whom the officer issues a citation for a violation of a traffic law in the jurisdiction of the political subdivision.
- (b) The warning under Subsection (a):
- (1) is in addition to any other warning required by law;
- (2) must state in substance that if the person fails to appear in court as provided by law for the prosecution of the offense or if the person fails to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost in the manner ordered by the court, the person may be denied renewal of the person’s driver’s license; and
- (3) may be printed on the same instrument as the citation.
These warnings are typically found in the fine print on the back or lower portion of your traffic citation. If this statutory warning was not provided on your citation, the court generally lacks the jurisdiction to report your driver’s license to the OMNIBASE system. This can be a crucial point for your defense.
How To Remove An Omni Hold In Texas
How to Clear a Driver’s License Renewal Hold in Texas
Clearing a driver’s license hold in Texas effectively involves a two-pronged approach. It’s vital to execute these steps correctly to avoid further complications, such as convictions on your permanent driving record that can lead to additional suspensions or increased insurance rates.
You cannot simply go to the court and pay off the tickets causing the hold. Doing so will almost always result in a conviction being reported on your permanent driving record. As detailed in our other articles, traffic ticket convictions can have significant negative impacts on your driving privileges and financial well-being.
The proper method, typically facilitated by an attorney, involves:
Step 1: Removing Warrants and Addressing the Underlying Tickets
First, any outstanding warrants related to the tickets causing the OMNI hold must be addressed. This is usually done by an attorney filing an appearance bond on your behalf.
- An appearance bond legally obligates the attorney to represent you in court and ensures your case is placed back on the court’s active docket.
- This is generally more cost-effective than a cash bond and allows your lawyer to work towards a resolution that protects your record from a conviction.
Remove An Omni Hold On Driver License
Step 2: Paying the OMNI Administrative Fee
Once the warrant is lifted and the court has acknowledged your case, an administrative fee must be paid to clear the hold from the DPS system. This fee is separate from any fine you might owe for the original traffic ticket.
- The current administrative fee is $10 for each complaint or citation reported to the department under Chapter 706 of the Transportation Code, unless the person is acquitted or the charges are dismissed with prejudice.
- This fee, as established in Texas Transportation Code Section 706.006, “Payment of Reimbursement Fee,” is considered a “reimbursement fee” for the administrative costs incurred by the state in managing the OMNIBASE system. It’s essentially a charge for the extra work involved due to the initial failure to resolve the citation.
Once these two steps are completed (warrant lifted and OMNI fee paid), the political subdivision (court) is legally required to notify the DPS that there is “no cause to continue to deny renewal” of your license.
- The specific laws governing the clearance process are outlined in Texas Transportation Code Section 706.005, “Clearance Notice to Department.”
- (a) A political subdivision shall immediately notify the department that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person’s driver’s license based on the person’s previous failure to appear or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost… on payment of a fee as provided by Section 706.006 and:
- (1) the perfection of an appeal…
- (2) the dismissal of the charge…
- (3) the posting of bond or the giving of other security to reinstate the charge for which the warrant was issued;
- (4) the payment or discharge of the fine and cost owed on an outstanding judgment of the court; or
- (5) other suitable arrangement to pay the fine and cost within the court’s discretion.
- (b) The department may not continue to deny the renewal of the person’s driver’s license under this chapter after the department receives notice…
- (1) under Subsection (a);
- (2) that the person was acquitted of the charge…
- (3) that the charge… was dismissed with prejudice…; or
- (4) from the political subdivision that the failure to appear report or court order… was sent to the department in error; or has been destroyed…
- (a) A political subdivision shall immediately notify the department that there is no cause to continue to deny renewal of a person’s driver’s license based on the person’s previous failure to appear or failure to pay or satisfy a judgment ordering the payment of a fine and cost… on payment of a fee as provided by Section 706.006 and:
Driver License Suspension Lawyer
Hire a Lawyer to Remove a Driver’s License Hold
The process of removing an OMNI hold is highly nuanced. The biggest mistake many people make is simply paying off old tickets to clear the hold, unaware that this action can trigger convictions that lead to more significant financial burdens and potential future license suspensions than the hold itself.
To ensure your OMNI hold is removed correctly and without harming your permanent driving record, it is highly advisable to consult with an experienced legal professional. Our traffic ticket lawyers specialize in these matters and understand the specific steps required to avoid convictions. When you’re faced with a driver’s license renewal hold on your Texas driver’s license, contact The Beltz Law Group today at 214-321-4105 to discuss your options and protect your driving privileges.
