Last Updated on June 19, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Speeding Ticket Defense Attorney
Dallas Speeding Ticket Attorneys: A Look Back at the Surcharge Era and Progress in Texas Law
For over a decade, Texas drivers lived under the shadow of the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP), a system that imposed substantial financial penalties, known as “surcharges,” for certain traffic convictions. At Beltz Law Group, our Dallas traffic ticket attorneys spent exhaustive time during those years helping countless individuals navigate the immense financial burdens these surcharges created.
It is with great relief and satisfaction that we can now say: The Texas Surcharge Program Has Been Abolished!
Effective September 1, 2019, this contentious program came to an end. While this doesn’t mean all driver’s license suspension issues have vanished, it represents a monumental step forward for justice in Texas, particularly for its most vulnerable residents. This article takes a look back at the concerns lawyers had during the surcharge era and celebrates the significant progress the State of Texas has made since.
The Old News on Surcharges: A Financial Burden on the Vulnerable
Before September 2019, our Dallas traffic ticket attorneys frequently encountered clients burdened by staggering surcharge assessments due to past traffic convictions. The system, established in 2003, aimed to monitor and manage driving habits, but many argued it became an unfair “tax” on low-income Texans.
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The Core Problem: In numerous cases, traffic ticket convictions that triggered surcharges arose not from reckless disregard for safety, but from an individual’s inability to pay the initial court fine. Some residents, facing a warrant or trying to avoid arrest, would accept a conviction in exchange for community service or simply pay the ticket without understanding the long-term ramifications. They were often unaware that the conviction itself could be far more expensive than the original ticket.
- How Surcharges Worked (The Old Way):
- Points System: For most moving violations, points were assessed on a driver’s record (2 points for a conviction, 3 points if it resulted in a crash). If a driver accumulated six or more points, they faced an annual surcharge for up to three years. These surcharges were $100 for the first six points, plus $25 for each additional point.
- Conviction-Based Surcharges: Certain severe offenses, like Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), No Insurance, or Driving While License Invalid, carried automatic annual surcharges, ranging from $100 to $2,000, also for three years, regardless of points.
- The Debt Trap: These surcharges were in addition to regular court fines and fees. If a driver couldn’t pay the surcharge, their driver’s license would be automatically suspended. This often created a devastating cycle: without a license, it was harder to work and earn money, making it impossible to pay the surcharges, thus perpetuating the suspension. This disproportionately impacted low-income Texans who relied on driving for employment and basic necessities, often forcing them into a cycle of debt and illegal driving.
From a lawyer’s perspective, the concern was immense. In almost every situation, the cost of hiring a Dallas speeding ticket lawyer to prevent the conviction in the first place was less than a single surcharge from the State of Texas. For instance, a “no insurance” conviction could lead to $750 in surcharges over three years, often twice the original ticket fine. We constantly worked to educate the public on how an experienced speeding ticket attorney could help them avoid being placed in this burdensome program.
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Progress in Texas: A More Equitable Path Forward
The abolition of the DRP on September 1, 2019, marked a significant triumph for fairness and economic justice in Texas. It was a recognition that financial penalties should not disproportionately punish the most vulnerable in the state or create insurmountable barriers to economic stability.
Key Benefits of the DRP Repeal:
- Immediate Relief: All outstanding DRP surcharge assessments and associated driver’s license suspensions were waived. This immediately made hundreds of thousands of Texans eligible to have their licenses reinstated.
- End of the Debt Cycle: Drivers are no longer trapped in a system where minor traffic offenses could lead to thousands of dollars in debt and prolonged license suspensions.
- Focus on Public Safety (Not Revenue): While safe driving remains paramount, the repeal shifted the focus away from using traffic violations primarily as a revenue-generating tool that often penalized the poor.
This is not to say that driving safely isn’t important. On the contrary, responsible driving habits are crucial for everyone’s safety on Texas roadways. However, the DRP’s punitive financial structure was widely criticized for punishing poverty rather than effectively promoting safer driving.
The Ongoing Importance of Protecting Your Driving Record
While surcharges are gone, it’s vital to understand that traffic ticket convictions still carry consequences. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) continues to monitor driving records. Convictions can still lead to:
- Driver’s License Suspensions: Accumulating too many moving violations (e.g., four or more in 12 months, or seven or more in 24 months) can still result in a license suspension.
- Increased Insurance Rates: Insurance companies still access your driving record, and convictions for moving violations will likely cause your premiums to rise significantly.
- Employment Impact: Many jobs, especially those involving driving, require a clean driving record.
Staying Out of Trouble (and Protecting Your Record)
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The core message remains the same: proactively defending your traffic tickets is the best “insurance policy” for your driving record. When you hire a Dallas speeding ticket lawyer, it creates a buffer between you and the court system. While a lawyer can’t magically make every case disappear, they can normally ensure that you avoid a conviction being placed on your permanent record.
Our Dallas traffic ticket attorneys will work to:
- Get your case dismissed.
- Negotiate for deferred disposition (probationary period resulting in dismissal if terms are met).
- Protect your driving record from points and convictions that lead to suspensions and higher insurance rates.
The call to discuss your case is free, and our services are designed to save you far more in the long run than what you would pay in increased insurance premiums or the potential costs of a license suspension.
Congratulations once again to all Texans who were impacted by the surcharge program and who can now move forward without that burden. For those facing new traffic tickets, remember the lessons learned from the past. Take the time to talk with a Dallas speeding ticket lawyer. Contact Beltz Law Group today at 214-321-4105 to discuss your options.
