Last Updated on June 7, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Speeding Tickets in Grand Prairie: Why Protecting Your Driving Record Matters
Grand Prairie Ticket Defense Lawyer
Avoid Convictions, License Suspensions, and Rising Insurance Rates 214-321-4105
Many Texans are unaware of the significant impact a traffic ticket conviction can have on their driving record, even though the state’s old “points system” and general surcharges based on accumulated points no longer apply. We often encounter clients who, with the best intentions, simply pay off every ticket they receive, believing they’re “doing the right thing.” However, they later discover their license is suspended, their insurance rates have skyrocketed, and they face ongoing complications.
This article aims to educate you about how speeding tickets in Grand Prairie Municipal Court can become convictions and why retaining an experienced traffic ticket attorney is crucial for protecting your driving record and driving privileges. If you would like to discuss your speeding tickets with a Grand Prairie traffic ticket attorney after reading, feel free to fill out our Traffic Ticket Questionnaire or call our office today.
Understanding Speeding Tickets & Their Impact
While the direct “points system” for surcharges is no longer active in Texas, convictions for moving violations still pose serious threats to your driving record and license. Speeding tickets are still categorized by their severity, and this plays a role in potential consequences:
- Speeding Under 10% Over Posted Limit: These types of tickets are generally considered less severe and, in certain contexts (like for commercial drivers using specific Transportation Code provisions), might not always result in a moving violation on the record if handled correctly.
- Speeding Over 10% of Posted Limit: These are considered standard moving violations. While they don’t accrue “points” in the old sense, if convicted, they will still appear on your permanent driving record.
- Speeding 15 MPH or More Over Posted Limit: These are viewed as serious moving violations. A conviction for this type of offense carries a higher risk of direct penalties and can contribute more quickly to license suspension triggers.
The Critical Role of Convictions: What You Need to Know
Hire An Attorney For A Traffic Ticket In Grand Prairie
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) only becomes aware of your moving violation if it is reported by Grand Prairie Municipal Court as a conviction. So, how does a speeding ticket become a conviction?
In most cases, a speeding ticket becomes a conviction by simply “mishandling” the ticket, often through an innocent but misguided attempt to resolve it. The system, as designed by the legislature, maximizes the courts’ ability to collect fines while placing a significant burden of responsibility on the driver.
For example, if you go down to Grand Prairie Municipal Court and pay your speeding ticket off because you felt it was the “right thing to do,” Grand Prairie will then report that offense as a conviction. That conviction is now a potential precursor to severe penalties from the DPS.
What gives Grand Prairie (and other Texas courts) the authority to do this? Article 27.14(c) of The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure states: “In a misdemeanor case for which the maximum possible punishment is by fine only, 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.”
This means by simply paying the fine, you are effectively entering a plea of “guilty” (or “no contest”) and waiving your rights, leading directly to a conviction.
The Lasting Impact of Convictions: Beyond the Fine
Grand Prairie Traffic Ticket Lawyer
The importance of handling a speeding ticket properly is lost on thousands of people across Texas every day. Consider this common scenario:
A driver receives a speeding ticket. Believing it’s the right thing to do, they simply go to the court and pay it off. Once that payment is made, the violation is reported as a conviction. This conviction, especially if combined with others, can then trigger serious consequences from the DPS, including:
- Driver’s License Suspension: Too many convictions within a certain timeframe can lead to your driver’s license being suspended. Non-payment of certain fees associated with convictions can also result in suspension. Losing your driving privileges can severely impact your ability to work, attend school, and manage daily life.
- Skyrocketing Insurance Rates: Auto insurance companies use your driving record to assess risk. A conviction (or multiple convictions) on your record will almost certainly lead to substantial increases in your annual insurance premiums for years.
This system was not primarily designed for your benefit. It was designed to streamline the process for courts. They collect your money, issue a receipt, and report a conviction, leaving you to deal with the long-term consequences.
Hire a Lawyer for Speeding Tickets in Grand Prairie
If you had hired a speeding ticket attorney in Grand Prairie under the scenario described above, they could have more than likely saved you from the suspended license and the increased insurance costs. Lawyers are able to negotiate deals on speeding tickets in Grand Prairie that protect your record from convictions, even if the ticket is past due or in warrant status.
That is why it is critical to discuss your speeding ticket with a legal professional first. The Beltz Law Group can work to prevent that “big red button” that says “conviction” from ever being pressed for your Grand Prairie speeding ticket.
Contact us today to discuss your options and defend your driving record.
