DRIVING SAFETY COURSES 

If you are charged with a traffic offense under the Uniform Traffic Law, which regulates traffic on highways (moving violation), you may request to take a driving safety course.  This request must be made in person at Sachse City Hall within 10 calendar days of the date of citation.  When you make the request, the Court will require that you pay a $10 administrative fee, state costs of $55 and the Defensive Driving Course charge of $103.  This charge is non-refundable even if you fail to complete the course.  Failure to complete the course will result in your fine being due.  You have the right to take the course to dismiss the charge if ALL of the following conditions are met:  (1) you have a valid Texas Drivers License, (2) $65 plus $103 for the Defensive Driving Course is paid by money order or cash, (3) proof of insurance, in your name, at the time the offense occurred is presented and verified, and (4) the offense charged is not for speeding 25 miles per hour or more over the posted limit.  You must enter a plea of either guilty or nolo contendere and file an affidavit with the court stating that you are not now in the process of taking a course under 543.103 of the Texas Transportation Code and that you have not completed a course under this subdivision that is not yet reflected on your driving record.

You will be allowed 90 days to complete a driving safety course approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety.  If you complete the course and present the Court with the Department of Public Safety Approved Certificate of Course Completion as your written evidence, the Court will dismiss your case.  The law requires that the Court send a notice of driving safety course completion to the Texas Department of Public Safety for inclusion on your driving record.

DEFERRED DISPOSITION

Article 45.54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure says the Judge, upon a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the defendant, a finding of guilt on a fine only offense, and the payment of all fees and court costs, may defer further proceedings and place the defendant on probation for up to 180 days.  At the conclusion of the deferral period, if the defendant has complied with the requirements imposed, the Judge shall dismiss the complaint.  Please contact the court for more information.