Online Defensive Driving
DriverCampus.com offers convenient online defensive driving
and traffic school courses for ticket dismissal, point reduction
and insurance reduction.
You may choose to take a Defensive Driving / Driver's Safety Course (DSC) on any one of the moving violations shown on the ticket you were issued. If you were cited while operating a motorcycle, you may be able to require dismissal of this charge by taking a Motorcycle Operators Training Course (MOTC). The eligibility for requesting a Motorcycle Operators Training Course is the same as the Defensive Driving/Driver's Safety Course with the exception that you must have been cited while operating a motorcycle.
If you were cited for any of the following, you are not eligible to take defensive driving for that violation.
Note: If you have a commercial driver's license you are not eligible to take Defensive Driving.
Please note that you can only take defensive driving for ticket dismissal once per year. Additionally you MUST request permission to take this course for purposes of ticket dismissal by the appearance date shown on your ticket.Your driving record must reflect that you have not completed a Driver Safety Course or Motorcycle Operator's Training Course, as applicable, within the last 12 months preceding the date of this offense.
If you are eligible, you will have 90 days from your request date to complete the Driver Safety Course or Motorcycle Operator's Training Course, if applicable. Note: It may take up to two (2) weeks to receive your certificate from the driving school. You will also need to obtain a certified copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety. If you request your driving record by mail, allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
** Please note that you do not have to set up a docket appearance and talk to a prosecutor for permission to take the course.You may come to a court location within 10 days of the citation and request permission.
Request Defensive Driving
You may request defensive driving in person or by mail. Follow the instructions on the yellow sheet the police officer gave you when your ticket was issued. Only the person who was issued the ticket may request permission to complete defensive driving.
On or before the appearance date on your ticket, you must submit the following:
If all of the above criteria for Defensive Driving are met, your permission to take the Driver's Safety Course or Motorcycle Operators Training Course, as applicable, will be automatically granted. You will receive notice from the Court
Time to Complete the Course
You will have 90 days from the date the affidavit is notarized to complete the defensive driving course and obtain a copy of your driving record. Proof of course completion and your driving record must be submitted on or before the 90th day. If you fail to show proof and submit your driving record, you will be scheduled for a hearing before a Municipal Court Judge.A notice of the hearing will be mailed to you at the address listed on your citation, unless you notify the Court of a change of address.You may also exercise the option to appear in person at Downtown location, 700 East 7th Street, Monday-Thursday from 8:30am to 11 am or 1:30 pm to 3:30pm to speak to a judge.
Driving Record
Driving records are available from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 5805 N. Lamar Blvd. (corner of North Lamar and Koenig Lane) Austin, TX 78752,(512)424-2600.The cost for a certified driving record is $10.00.
Proof of Completion
You may exercise the option to either bring in or mail the original certificate of course completion and your driving record.The proof must arrive at the Court or be deposited in the Court's lobby drop box no later than the 90th day after the date that your Driving Safety Course Request Affidavit was notarized.
Getting Defensive Driving Information Specific to Your Ticket
You can find out your deadline for showing proof of completion of defensive driving by using our Interactive Voice Response System. Call the system at (512)974-4800 and select the Defensive Driving option. Choose the case specific option.
You will need to know your ticket number to get this information. The ticket number is the number in the upper right corner of your citation.