How Long Do Texas Traffic Tickets Stay on Your Record?
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Blue and red lights flashing behind your car are never a good indication. A traffic citation in Texas remains on your driving record for three years following the conviction. Along with the violation record, the points linked with the ticket are also kept for three years. Most drivers will pay up to $200 in fines and court costs for a traffic ticket, but that is likely not the end of additional taxes or surcharges. Certain offenses result in larger fines.
Surcharge Assessment
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) charges drivers surcharges depending on traffic violations. This surcharge is based on either a conviction or points. Moving infractions, such as speeding, are punishable by two points per conviction. If the offenses resulted in a collision, however, three points are deducted.
Drivers with six or more points on their record will face an annual fee. If the driver does not earn any additional points within a year, one point is deducted from the total.
If a driver is convicted of any of the following charges, there are no points assessed, per se:
- Driving under the influence
- Driving without a license
- Driving with an invalid license
- Driving without insurance
Instead, the individual must pay an annual surcharge for three years beginning with the date of conviction. If you choose, you can pay the three-year extra all at once.
Higher insurance rates
Expect to pay more for auto insurance coverage if you have traffic fines on your record. Many moving offenses in Texas will cause insurance rates to climb by 15% or more.
You may have many questions if you have received a traffic ticket warrant in Texas. What effect will it have on your record? How much money will you have to pay? Will it have an impact on your job applications or insurance rates? The answers to these questions will be determined by how you reply to the warrant.
Defense lawyers understand the consequences of a Texas traffic ticket warrant, both now and in the future. They are here to offer you the counsel and vigorous representation you require to safeguard your rights.
Traffic ticket pleas
A driver in traffic court may enter a guilty, not guilty, or no contest plea. Pleading guilty or no contest will almost certainly result in the payment of fines and points for the ticket. The infraction is recorded on your driving record.
The driver must appear in front of the traffic court judge if he or she pleads not guilty. The driver must give evidence that they did not commit the alleged motor vehicle infraction. It is better to enter a not-guilty plea after consulting with a traffic ticket attorney.
Remember that failing to respond to a traffic infraction and failing to appear in court results in the court issuing a traffic ticket warrant. That is something you should always avoid since it implies that a law enforcement officer may arrest you at any time. Warrants may surface on background checks, affecting your ability to obtain jobs, housing, or financing. If a traffic warrant is issued, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
Do traffic ticket warrants show up on background checks?
The long-term consequences of traffic ticket warrants in Texas can be significantly more severe than the fee you may be required to pay at the time of resolution. They might appear when you apply for jobs, scholarships, license renewal, or auto insurance.
A traffic ticket warrant will surface on a background check depending on a few criteria. Your ticket could be issued by a town, county, or state, and whether or not the warrant is reported depends on the protocol of the issuing institution. The level of background checks performed can also influence reporting. For example, if you are applying for a job that requires driving on duty, the check is more likely to include DMV records, where the warrant may be found. Your traffic ticket warrant attorney can assist you in determining whether you have outstanding warrants and whether they will appear in areas that may affect you.
Why a lawyer is beneficial for resolving an unpaid traffic ticket
Arrest warrants add stress to the situation since they create ambiguity. You could be out with your family, at work, or even coaching a t-ball game when an active warrant catches up with you and you are arrested.
As previously said, there are several options for resolving a warrant, but hiring an attorney to post bail and handle negotiations is the most advantageous. However, they are not the only advantages. When you employ a lawyer, you may navigate the legal system with confidence rather than fear.
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