Driving Safety Course

If you are charged with an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle, you may dismiss your case with the successful completion of a driving safety course. You must request to take a driving safety course before the appearance date on the citation, either in person, or in writing through certified mail. If you were operating a motorcycle and request a driving safety course, you must take a motorcycle operator training course.

Please read all of the instructions and requirements on this page carefully.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for a Driving Safety Course if:

  • You have not taken a driving safety course within the 12 months proceeding the date of the current offense (calculated from the date of course completion to the date of your current citation), and you are not currently taking the course for another citation.
  • You have a valid Texas Driver's License (No Commercial Driver's License). However, if you are active duty military, or an active duty military spouse, or dependent child, you do not have to have a Texas driver's license or permit. But you do need to provide proof of your military status by presenting your military ID card along with your out of state driver's license.
  • You must provide proof of valid financial responsibility with your name listed (liability insurance).
  • You were not charged with:
    • Failure to give information at an accident scene
    • Leaving the scene of an accident
    • Passing a school bus
    • A serious traffic violation
    • Speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the limit or 95 miles per hour  or more
    • An offense that occurred in a construction zone when workers were present
  • You did not commit a traffic offense while possessing a commercial driver's license.

Request a Driving Safety Course

  1. You must meet the eligibility requirements mentioned above in the "Driving Safety Course Eligibility Requirements" section.
  2. Submit your request in person at the court or in writing.
  3. Present a copy of your valid Texas Driver's License (No Commercial Driver's License). However, if you are active duty military, or an active duty military spouse, or dependent child, you do not have to have a Texas driver's license or permit. But you do need to provide proof of your military status by presenting your military ID card along with your out of state driver's license.
  4. A copy of your valid financial responsibility (liability insurance card) with your name listed, or other evidence of financial responsibility.
  5. Pay court costs to the court:
    • Moving violations not occurring in School Zone - $144
    • Moving violations occurring in a School Zone - $169

Items 2 through 5 listed must be mailed on or before your due date. Late or incomplete requests will not be accepted. A reply will be mailed to the address you provide. If you fail to receive a response within two weeks, call the Court office at 972-304-3650. Remember to enter a plea on the request form.

Important: Your request must be received by the Court on or before the appearance date above the signature line of your citation.

What Happens Next

Once your request has been granted by the Judge, you will have 90 days to complete the driving safety course (no extensions will be granted) and present evidence of completion by the 90th day along with a certified copy of your Texas driving record (Type 3A). You can request your driving record either by mail or online. If you request it online, you can print your driving record immediately. Information on how to request the driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety is provided in the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver Record Request Form (PDF).

View a List of Approved Driving Safety Course Providers.

After Completing the Driving Safety Course

After you have successfully completed the Driving Safety Course, you must submit the following documents to the Court:

  • Certificate of Completion for the Driving Safety Course (you must turn in the Court Copy and it must be signed)
  • Copy of your Texas Driving Record (Type 3A) that you request from the Texas Department of Public Safety

Important: The Driver's Safety Certificate and the certified copy of your driving record must be submitted to the court within 90 days of the date on which the court approves your request to take the course.

After proof of satisfactory completion of the Driving Safety Course and the driving record have been presented to the Court, the judge will dismiss the case.