Last Updated on June 6, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Don’t Just Pay That Traffic Ticket: How to Properly Handle Your Citation in Texas.
Speeding Ticket Lawyers In Dallas County
Expert Traffic Ticket Defense for Dallas & Surrounding Areas. Call The Beltz Law Group Today: 214-321-4105
In today’s heavily regulated traffic law environment, handling a traffic ticket in Dallas, Fate, or any other Texas city has become a specialized area of law. A moving violation conviction, even a seemingly minor one, can lead to serious long-term consequences for your driving record, your insurance rates, and potentially even the suspension of your driver’s license.
For these reasons, there are decidedly right and wrong ways to deal with a traffic ticket in Texas. At The Beltz Law Group, we’re here to guide you through the process, ensuring your citation is handled correctly to protect your future.
The ONLY Way to Properly Handle a Traffic Ticket: Protect Your Record.
1. Never Plead “Guilty” by Simply Paying the Fine. This is the easiest way to resolve a ticket, but it’s also the most damaging. Paying the fine is an admission of guilt, resulting in an automatic conviction on your permanent driving record. While the old state “points system” and associated surcharges were repealed in 2019, convictions still lead to:
- Higher Auto Insurance Premiums: Your insurer will see the conviction and can significantly increase your rates for years.
- Driver’s License Suspension Risk: Accumulating too many moving violations (e.g., four or more in 12 months, or seven or more in 24 months) can still lead to a driver’s license suspension by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).
- Future Complications: A conviction can make it harder to negotiate future tickets and may impact employment opportunities, especially for professional drivers.
You must be smarter about your traffic tickets. Our goal is to ensure every citation is kept off your permanent record, regardless of the initial cost, to save you far more in the long run.
2.
Dallas Attorney For Warrants
Never Allow Your Cases to Go Into Warrant Status by Ignoring Them. Most courts in Texas, including Dallas Municipal Court, give you a limited timeframe—often 10 to 21 days—to contact the court after receiving a traffic ticket. It is absolutely crucial to make contact within this period.
- Avoid Warrants: If you ignore the ticket and miss your appearance date, the court will typically issue a warrant for your arrest, and a separate “Failure to Appear” (FTA) charge will be added. This means you now have two criminal cases, a higher financial burden, and the constant threat of arrest. It can also place an OMNI Base hold on your driver’s license, preventing renewal.
- Buy Yourself Time: Our experienced traffic ticket attorneys can act on your behalf in Dallas Municipal Court or any other jurisdiction. By entering an appearance and requesting a pre-trial hearing, we can typically extend your court date by another 30 days or more. This buys you valuable time to save money, gather information, or simply reduce stress without the burden of an active warrant.
3. Always Cooperate with Your Lawyer and Attend Required Court Dates. While our attorneys handle the vast majority of court appearances for you, there are times when your presence may be necessary. This is especially true if your case proceeds to trial or if your appearance is specifically requested by the judge or prosecutor.
- The “Officer No-Show” Benefit: If you show up for a scheduled court date and the citing officer does not, you often get the benefit of a dismissal. However, if you are not present, that opportunity is lost.
- Your Best Interest: Your cooperation is vital for the best results. If your lawyer advises you to appear in court, it’s always in your best interest to do so. It shows the court your commitment to resolving the matter and strengthens your defense.
4.
Dallas Ticket Defense Lawyer
If Granted Deferred Disposition, Always Pay the Fee on Time. If your case is not dismissed outright, the most common and effective way to protect your record is through deferred disposition. This agreement allows your ticket to be dismissed after a probationary period, provided you meet certain conditions, including paying a required court fee (sometimes called a “special expense fee”).
- Don’t Lose Your Deal: We have seen countless clients get excellent deals only to lose all the time, effort, and money invested because they failed to pay the required fee on time. If you miss this payment, the deferred disposition can be revoked, and the original conviction will be placed on your driving record.
- Cooperative Effort: An experienced Dallas traffic ticket attorney can only care about your case as much as you do. It’s a cooperative effort. Giving your full cooperation throughout the process—especially regarding payment deadlines for deferred disposition—is essential for the best possible results.
Don’t let a traffic ticket haunt you for years to come. Take it seriously, and let The Beltz Law Group provide the experienced legal guidance you need to protect your driving record and your future.
