Driving Safety Course

NOTE: If you are a juvenile (16 years of age or younger) you are required to appear in court before the Judge with your parent or legal guardian. The requests below do not apply to you.

If you are charged with a traffic offense, you may be eligible to take a driving safety course to dismiss the charge. The request must be made on or before your appearance date. You can make that request in person, by certified mail or e-mail. 

You are eligible if you:

  1. Have a valid Texas Driver’s License or permit
  2. DID NOT hold a commercial driver’s license at the time of the stop or upon request
  3. Have valid vehicle insurance with you listed as a driver
  4. Have not taken a driving safety course within the 12 months proceeding the current offense
  5. Are not currently taking a course for another traffic violation

You are NOT eligible if you:

  1. Left the scene of an accident
  2. Were Passing a School Bus
  3. Were in a construction zone while workers were present
  4. Were speeding 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit
  5. Were speeding 95 mph or more

HOW TO MAKE A REQUEST

In person - Appear in court on or before your appearance date located at 109 W. 5th St. Taylor, TX 76574. You will need to bring the items mentioned below.

  1. Valid TX Driver’s License or permit
  2. Proof of valid vehicle insurance with your name listed as a driver
  3. Payment of $144.00 (outside a school zone) or $169.00 (in school zone)                                                                                          Forms of payment accepted - Cash, Debit/Credit card ($3.00 processing fee), Money order or cashier’s check (NO PERSONAL CHECKS) 

Certified Mail - This request must be post dated on or before your appearance date. The items you will need to include are listed below.

  1. Clear copy of valid TX Driver’s License
  2. Clear copy of valid vehicle insurance with you listed as a driver
  3. Part A, B and C on your citation filled out completely 
  4. Payment of $144.00 (outside school zone) or $169.00 (in school zone) in a money order or cashier’s check (NO PERSONAL CHECKS)

E-mail - This request has to be submitted on or before your appearance date to court@taylortx.gov. The items listed below will need to be attached to your email.

  1. Clear copy of valid TX Driver’s License
  2. Clear copy of valid vehicle insurance with you listed as a driver
  3. The request form completely filled out. 
  4. Call in a payment of $144.00 (outside school zone) or $169.00 (inside school zone). A $3.00 processing fee will apply. This request is not complete until the payment is received. (The court does not accept American Express.) 
    • Payment must be made in person, over the phone, or by mailing a money order or cashier's check. DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT ONLINE. An online payment will close the case resulting in a conviction. 

You will have 90 days to submit your documents to the court. Those documents are as follows:

  1. A certified copy of your driving record. The court needs ALL pages
  2. The "court copy" of the uniform certificate of course completion from the driving safety course
  3. The affidavit that was signed in front of a notary. This is for mail and email request only. 

NOTE: If you do not take the course within the 90 days you will be convicted and you will be responsible for the $100 fine plus any additional fees. If you completed the course with in the 90 days but failed to submit the documents by the due date, you will need to come in to see the Judge on your show cause date (provided to you upon request). Fail to do so will result in a warrant and additional fees added. 

**The court may not recommend a course to you; however, there are some online or in class courses that you can choose from by visiting www.tdlr.texas.gov/DESSearch. Make sure your course is approved by the State of Texas.