Failure to Appear Tickets In Farmers Branch For Missing The Appearance Date

Last Updated on June 6, 2025 by Beltz Law Group

Missed a Court Date in Farmers Branch? Don’t Let “Failure to Appear” Add to Your Worries.

Expert Legal Help for Farmers Branch Municipal Court Warrants & FTAs. Call The Beltz Law Group Now: 214-321-4105

It happens more often than you might think: you get a traffic ticket in Farmers Branch for something like speeding, running a red light, or a “no driver’s license” violation, and you simply forget or are unable to appear on your assigned court date. If you fail to appear by the end of that business day, Farmers Branch Municipal Court will issue a “Failure to Appear” (FTA) charge.

This is a critical point: a Failure to Appear is a separate criminal offense from your original ticket. So, instead of one ticket, you now have two – your initial citation and a new Class C misdemeanor for FTA. The sticker price for an FTA ticket can easily run around $300, on top of the fines for your original offense. This is a high price to pay for missing an appearance date, and it also triggers an immediate warrant for your arrest.

The Double Whammy: Failure to Appear and Warrants

When a Failure to Appear charge is issued in Farmers Branch, two major consequences typically follow:

1. New Criminal Charge: You’re charged with a Class C misdemeanor for violating your promise to appear in court (Texas Transportation Code, Section 543.009, or Texas Penal Code, Section 38.10).
2. Active Warrant: A warrant for your arrest is issued. This means you could be pulled over and arrested at any time, leading to unexpected jail time and further legal complications.
3. OMNI Base Program Hold: Your case is likely reported to the statewide OMNI Base Program (also known as the Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay program). This puts a hold on your driver’s license renewal, preventing you from renewing your license until the FTA and underlying citation are resolved.

How The Beltz Law Group Can Help You

While a Failure to Appear charge is serious, you don’t have to face it alone. Our experienced Farmers Branch traffic ticket lawyers are adept at navigating these situations. We can help you:

• Lift Outstanding Warrants Quickly: Our first priority is to get your warrants lifted as soon as possible, usually within a matter of days after being retained. This removes the immediate threat of arrest and allows us to begin addressing your cases.
• Negotiate for FTA Dismissal: This is where an experienced attorney truly benefits you. In many cases, if the underlying citation (e.g., the speeding ticket) is successfully resolved or placed on deferred disposition, the Farmers Branch Municipal Court prosecutors may agree to dismiss the separate Failure to Appear charge.
  • This is not guaranteed in every case, as dismissal of the FTA is at the discretion of the court and prosecutor. However, having a lawyer advocate for you significantly increases your chances of achieving this beneficial outcome. It saves you the additional fine and keeps a separate criminal charge off your record.
• Resolve the Underlying Citation: Once the warrants are lifted, our attorneys will go to court to review your original case. We will:
  • Assess if your ticket can be legally dismissed based on the facts or legal defenses.
  • If dismissal isn’t possible, we will work to negotiate the best possible deal to keep the ticket from affecting your permanent driving record (e.g., through deferred disposition).
• Handle Court Appearances: In most situations, you won’t need to appear in Farmers Branch Municipal Court. Our attorneys will represent you, saving you time and stress.

Don’t Let a Missed Date Become a Bigger Problem

Ignoring a Failure to Appear or an active warrant will only lead to more severe consequences. It can result in a more expensive legal battle, higher fines, and extended periods of driver’s license suspension.

If you have outstanding warrants or a Failure to Appear charge pending in Farmers Branch Municipal Court, don’t delay. Contact The Beltz Law Group today.

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