Cleaning your driving record in Texas involves several strategies, depending on the nature of the infractions and when they occurred. Taking proactive steps can help remove points, dismiss tickets, and improve your driving history, potentially leading to lower insurance premiums and preventing license suspensions.
Strategies to Clean Your Texas Driving Record
Here are the primary methods for improving your Texas driving record:
1. Take a Defensive Driving Course (Driver Safety Course)
In Texas, completing a state-approved Driver Safety Course (DSC), commonly known as defensive driving, can prevent a traffic ticket from appearing on your record and accumulating points. This course typically lasts six hours and can be taken online or in person.
- Eligibility: To be eligible, you generally must:
- Have a valid Texas driver's license.
- Not have taken a DSC within the previous 12 months for ticket dismissal.
- Not be charged with certain serious offenses (e.g., speeding 25 mph over the limit, leaving the scene of an accident, passing a school bus).
- Request permission from the court before your appearance date.
- Process: After completing the course, you'll receive a certificate to provide to the court, leading to the dismissal of the eligible violation.
2. Seek Deferred Disposition
Deferred disposition is a common and effective way to get a traffic ticket dismissed in Texas. It allows you to pay a fine, usually higher than the standard fine, and complete a probationary period (often 90 to 180 days) without receiving another citation.
- Process: You plead guilty or no contest, and the judge postpones entering a judgment. If you successfully complete the probationary period without new violations, the charge is dismissed, and it will not appear as a conviction on your driving record.
- Benefits: This prevents points from being added to your record and avoids an increase in insurance rates associated with a conviction.
- Eligibility: Similar to defensive driving, eligibility varies by court and offense type. Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders are typically not eligible for deferred disposition.
3. Contest Your Ticket
If you believe a traffic ticket was issued in error or unjustly, you have the right to contest it in court by pleading not guilty.
- Process: You can present your case, evidence, and arguments to the judge. This may involve cross-examining the officer or presenting witness testimony.
- Outcome: If the court rules in your favor, the ticket is dismissed, and it will not appear on your record. If you are found guilty, you may still be able to pursue deferred disposition or a defensive driving course if eligible.
4. Dispute Errors on Your Driving Record
Sometimes, mistakes can appear on your driving record. These could be incorrect violations, identity mix-ups, or outdated information.
- Action: Regularly obtain a copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to review its accuracy. If you find errors, you can contact the DPS to initiate a dispute and request a correction. Providing supporting documentation can help expedite the process.
5. Expunge Your Record
Expungement (or expunction) is a legal process in Texas that completely seals or destroys records of certain arrests and criminal offenses. For driving records, this is generally limited to specific circumstances, often where an arrest did not lead to a conviction, or for certain misdemeanor offenses after a set waiting period.
- Applicability: It is typically not available for traffic convictions like speeding tickets, but rather for more serious offenses that were dismissed, acquitted, or resulted in a pardon. Consulting with a legal professional is crucial to determine if your specific case is eligible for expungement.
6. Fix Minor Issues Immediately
Addressing minor infractions and pending issues promptly can prevent them from escalating and negatively impacting your record further.
- Examples: This includes paying fines on time, responding to court notices, or completing any required community service or classes as ordered by the court. Ignoring these can lead to warrants, license suspension, or additional fees, making it harder to clean your record in the future.
How to Get Your Texas Driving Record
You can request a copy of your Texas driving record (Type 3A is often preferred for insurance purposes) through the Texas DPS website. This allows you to monitor your record for accuracy and identify any issues that need to be addressed.
Summary of Record Cleaning Methods
| Method | Description | Primary Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive Driving Course (DSC) | Completing a state-approved course for eligible traffic violations. | Ticket dismissal, prevents points, potential insurance discount. |
| Deferred Disposition | Paying a fine and completing a probationary period to dismiss a ticket. | Ticket dismissal, prevents conviction on record, no points added. |
| Contesting a Ticket | Pleading not guilty and challenging the citation in court. | Potential dismissal of the charge if successful. |
| Disputing Errors | Contacting Texas DPS to correct inaccuracies on your driving record. | Ensures record accuracy, removes incorrect violations. |
| Expungement | Legal process to remove certain arrests/offenses from your public record. | Complete removal of specific eligible criminal/arrest records. |
| Fix Minor Issues Immediately | Promptly addressing fines, court orders, or other pending matters. | Prevents further penalties, suspensions, or escalating issues. |
By utilizing these strategies, Texans can take effective steps to clean up their driving records and maintain a better standing with the state and insurance providers.
