Driving Safety Course
(Holders of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) are not eligible)
If you are charged with certain moving traffic offenses, including "Seat Belt Violations" (after the repeal of such training programs effective June 1, 2023); you may be eligible to take a driving safety course (DSC) to dismiss the charge. You may not take a driving safety course without first obtaining permission from the court and only one violation can be dismissed.
The request must be made
on or before the appearance date on the citation.
It must be made in person, by counsel, or by mail (see mail requirement below:
To request the Driver Safety Course by mail, please use the form below. Include with your request a photo copy of your valid Texas driver’s license, current insurance card and money order or check made payable to the City of Groves. Contact the Court for the correct amount. The Affidavit on the form must be Notarized. Your request must be postmarked no later than your initial court appearance date listed on your citation.
If you are under age 17, you must appear in open court with a parent or guardian to make the request.
At the time of the request in person or by mail, you must do the following:
- Plead guilty or no contest, (by mail, print DSC Affidavit, and mail with the following:)
- Pay court costs and a $10 administrative fee.
- Present proof of liability insurance; and
- Present a valid Texas driver’s license or permit.(Active military and spouses or dependent children of active military may present a valid driver’s license from any state.)
To be eligible, you:
- Cannot have taken a driving safety course or motorcycle operator’s course for a traffic offense within the last 12 months from the date of the current offense;
- Cannot currently be taking the course for another traffic violation;
- Cannot be the holder of a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or have held a CDL at the time of the offense; and
- Have not committed one of the following offenses:
- Failure to Give Information at Accident Scene;
- Leaving Scene of Accident;
- Passing a School Bus;
- A serious traffic violation, which applies to commercial motor vehicle operators;
- An offense in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present;
- Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit; or
- Speeding 95 mph or more.
Have not committed one of the following offenses:
- Failure to Give Information at Accident Scene;
- Leaving Scene of Accident;
- Passing a School Bus;
- A serious traffic violation, which applies to commercial motor vehicle operators;
- An offense in a construction or maintenance work zone when workers are present;
- Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit; or
- Speeding 95 mph or more.
The case will be deferred for 90 days.
During that time, you must:
- Complete a driving safety course approved by the Texas Education Agency or a motorcycle operator’s course approved by the Department of Public Safety and present the completion certificate to the court by the end of the 90 days; (Visit https://search.tdlrapproved.com for a list of class providers.)
- Present a certified copy of your driving record from the Department of Public Safety that shows that you have not had a driving safety course within the preceding 12 months from the date of the current offense by the end of the 90 days; (print and mail Application for driving record with $10.00, or visit https://texas.govs/ to download immediately for $12.00) and;
- Swear to an affidavit that you were not taking a driving safety course at the time of the request for the current offense and that you have not taken one that is not shown on your driving record. If making your request by mail, the Affidavit on the form must be Notarized.
If you do not present the required documents in time, the court will notify you to return to court and explain why you failed. The judge may, but is not required to, allow you to file the proper papers for an extension at that time. Your failure to be present at that hearing will result in a conviction on your driving record, a fine being assessed, and a capias pro fine for your arrest being issued.
DEFERRED DISPOSITION
The judge ma y, in his solediscretion,defer disposition on most cases. The holder of a commercial driver's license (CDL Pursuant to Sections 45.051 and 45.0511) is not eligible for deferred disposition on moving traffic violations (any violation that revolves around a moving vehicle including Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility). Costs must be paid when the court grants deferred. If you complete the required terms, the case will be dismissed. The deferred period cannot exceed 180 days.
Clerks may process Deferred Disposition for a single eligible moving violation, and for a single failure to maintain financial responsibility offense (with no prior FMFR convictions) for adult defendants when the judge is not available.
MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS:A defendant is eligible to receive deferred disposition on one moving traffic violation for 60 days at the window. The defendant must show proof of a Valid Driver’s License. The special expense fee will be $Fine Amount, respectively, plus applicable court costs of $134.00 or $169.00.(subject to change at any time without notice) EXCEPT in the following circumstances:(a) juvenile defendants (b) The defendant currently holds a Commercial Driver’s License or held a Commercial Driver’s License on the date of his ticket; (c) The defendant’s ticket is in warrant status; (d) The defendant has been arrested on a warrant for their ticket; (e) The defendant’s ticket is for speeding more than 25+ miles an hour over the speed limit; (f) The defendant’s ticket is for Passing a School Bus; (g) The defendant’s ticket is for Speeding in a Construction Zone with Workers Present unless said allegation has been waived by the prosecutor; (h) If a defendant has any pending violations (unable to clear up at the time of request), whether in good standing or not, he/she must see the Judge in person to ask for Deferred Disposition. (i) A defendant charged with driving while license invalid, alcohol violations, tobacco violations, under age twenty-five (25) and provisional driver’s license rules apply on all moving violations,
(j) A defendant must not be on deferred disposition at the time of the request. (k) A defendant must not be currently taking a drivers safety class at the time of the request. (l) If the defendant has had one (1) deferral for a moving traffic violation in Groves within the last 12 months (the 12-month time is calculated from the date of the first citation to the date of the second citation), then he/she must see the judge in person to request deferral. (m) All state laws regarding eligibility apply. (n)
FMFR VIOLATIONS: If a defendant obtains liability insurance specifically covering the defendant as a driver within 14 working days from the date of their ticket and the defendant shows proof that they have a valid driver’s license, he/she is eligible to receive deferred disposition. The special expense fee will be $350.00, respectively, plus applicable court costs of $81.00. (subject to change at any time without notice) EXCEPT in the following circumstances:(a) juvenile defendants (b) The defendant currently holds a Commercial Driver’s License or held a Commercial Driver’s License on the date of his ticket; (c) The defendant’s ticket is in warrant status; (d) The defendant has been arrested on a warrant for their ticket; (e) If a defendant has any pending violations (unable to clear up at the time of request), whether in good standing or not, he/she must see the Judge in person to ask for Deferred Disposition. (f) A defendant charged with driving while license invalid, alcohol violations, tobacco violations, (g) A defendant must not be on deferred disposition at the time of the request. (h) If the defendant has had one (FMFR) deferral in the past, and or a FMFR conviction, then he/she must see the judge in person to request deferral (DP dropped charges, or DI dismissed cases do not count). (i) All state laws regarding eligibility apply.
- If a defendant does not obtain such liability insurance within 14 working days from the date of their ticket, does not have a valid driver’s license, and are unable to pay in full they are ineligible for a deferral at the window, and must see the Judge, or other payment options (which will make it a final conviction).
*Note that the period of deferred disposition cannot be more than 6 months long (180 days). The deferral amount must be paid up front in full if requested at the window. If the defendant is unable to make that payment in full at the window when deferral is requested, they will be required to see the judge.