Click here to fight your Texas traffic ticket.
There’s nothing more frustrating than getting a traffic ticket. The mere sight of those red and blue lights behind you can be pretty frustrating, especially if it’s your first time.
What’s even more frustrating is that you don’t know how much you’ll have to pay, how your driving record will be affected, and if your insurance rates will go up. On the bright side, getting a speeding ticket in Texas won’t leave a permanent mark on your driving record or increase your insurance rates. You will, however, have to pay a fine.
Read on as we keep you in the loop on how to pay a traffic ticket in Texas, along with other proactive actions you can take.
How to Pay a Traffic Ticket in Texas
If you don’t plan on contesting your citation after getting a traffic ticket in Texas, you can pay it in four ways: online, by phone, in person, or by mail.
Online
If you choose to pay your Texas traffic ticket online, you can visit the government portal and pay your fine via debit or credit card. You will incur a minimum convenience fee of 3.5%. If you want to pay your ticket in installments, you must have an approved payment plan with the court.
Alternatively, you can use the Winit app, which is way easier and more convenient, as it allows you to dispute your traffic tickets seamlessly.
To dispute your ticket with Appwinit, all you have to do is take a picture of your ticket or use the search feature on the app to check the city’s servers for tickets associated with your license plate. You can also submit any evidence you might have to strengthen your case, and that’s it. The Appwinit team will handle your dispute from there.
By Phone
To pay for your Texas traffic ticket by phone, you can call the courthouse at (512) 974-4800. The service is only available on weekdays, from 8 am to 5 pm.
By Mail
You can also pay for your Texas traffic ticket by mail. Here, you will need to mail a check or money order with the amount stated on your ticket to:
Austin Municipal Court
P.O. Box 2135 Austin
TX 78768-2135
You will also need to include the following information with your payment:
· Your license plate number
· Date of violation
· Citation number
· Your contact information
In Person
If you want to pay for your ticket in person, you will have to visit the main courthouse at 6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 175, Austin, TX 78744, or the Jamie Padron Substation at 12425 Lamplight Village Ave, Austin, TX 78758.
The court only accepts payments in the form of a money order or cashier’s check, payable to the city in the full amount due. You should also write your ticket number and contact information on the check.
What If I Am Unable to Pay for My Ticket?
If you don’t pay for your fine right away, the penalties might compound over time, resulting in more tickets, fees, and fines. Refusal to pay your ticket or appear in court can also lead to jail time, as well as a hold preventing you from renewing your driver’s license.
However, if you are unable to pay for your ticket, you can request alternative payment options here. A judge must approve all alternative payment methods. You’ll also need to provide proof of income and expenses, as well as two references.
What Is a Deferral?
Deferring a traffic ticket basically means agreeing with the court to keep the ticket off your driving record. This often means paying the costs of penalties and dealing with whatever penalties come your way.
A deferral gives you a window of time to remedy or offset your traffic offense. For example, you might have to take a driver safety course or obtain and maintain insurance.
If you successfully complete the terms of your deferral, the case will be dismissed. The exact cost of your deferral varies and will be reflected in the online case portal after your request is processed. Here are the estimated costs for the state of Texas ticket deferral .
To Request a Deferral
You can also get your traffic ticket dismissed through Deferred Adjudication. Normally, you will have to pay a court fee, after which you will be placed on a 60- to 90-day probation period. But for your citation to be dismissed, you should not get any other traffic tickets within the probation period.
That being said, deferrals are only granted for certain offenses. You also have to be eligible for one. You are eligible if:
· You are 17 or older
· You don’t have a commercial driver’s license
· You are charged with either moving violations, no insurance, bicycle violations, water violations, or disabled parking
You can apply for a deferral here.
To Request a Dismissal
For some infractions, you may be able to show the court that you fixed the issue either in person or online and request that the case be dismissed. This is referred to as a compliance dismissal. In most cases, it comes with an associated fee of $20.
You can fill out an online form to request a compliance dismissal for common issues such as:
· Failure to display a driver’s license
· No motorcycle license
· No driver’s license
· Unregistered out-of-state vehicle
· Unregistered vehicle
You can request a dismissal here.
To Request a Hearing
You can also request a hearing with a judge to resolve your court case online over video conference without going to the municipal court. To have a hearing online, you will need internet access, along with video and microphone capabilities. You can also email the court to discuss your case with a prosecutor.
The Bottom Line
If you want to avoid further penalties and keep your driving record clean, you have to pay or dispute your Texas traffic ticket right away. Luckily, the state of Texas provides you with multiple ways to do this for the utmost convenience.
