Ask anywhere: traffic tickets, suspension and driver responsibility are some of the most searched items related to driving. Getting a driver's license in Texas is a big enough feat. An even bigger challenge then, is keeping your driving record clean.

The words above are commonly-searched for one reason: individuals want a clean driving record and need to figure out the steps to make that happen. Let's try and break down the processes for each in a more generic way that applies to most counties in Texas.

Traffic Tickets: what to do?

If you drive careful enough, you'll manage to avoid tickets. But once you've been issued a traffic ticket in Texas, you only have 10 days to respond to it. The two options are to either pay it, or you can request to have your traffic ticket dismissed by completing a Texas driving safety course.

Paying the fine is essentially admitting to the court that you are guilty, contact your local court to find out how you could settle the fine. They usually take personal checks, cash, debit cards or credit cards. It varies from county-to-county.

Depending on the reason for the ticket, sometimes, there's an option for taking a defensive driving course. This is a way of dismissing the ticket --- by taking the course, you effectively remove up to four points on your driving record and you may even get discounts on your insurance. If the driver has been going 25 MPH over the posted limit, a driver safety course option will not be available.

Suspended license: what to do?

If a driver has been caught driving irresponsibly multiple times, the driver's license can get suspended. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will be informed of the suspension. If driving is essential for that driver’s education or livelihood, they should contact their local district court for the requirements on a restricted license.

Driver Responsibility Program: what is it?

Much like New York: life is harder for bad drivers in Texas. Their driver responsibility program helps enforce their safe driving policies. For a driver with over 6 points on their driving record, there will be an annual fee to be paid for up to 3 years. This could be an additional $100 a year or up to $2000 a year, depending on the number of points and severity of driving offense.

Okay, now that you know what tickets, suspensions and driving responsibility is about in Texas: what can you do to avoid them? Simple --- and this is easier said than done --- be a safe driver.

Labels: driving record, driving safety course, texas defensive driving course, texas drivers license, texas traffic ticket

The Texas DPS is giving drivers who have suspended licenses because of unpaid surcharges by offering an amnesty period from January 17, 2011 to April 17, 2011. The goal of the amnesty period is to bring drivers into compliance with the surcharge law while also allowing them to regain their driving privileges.

The amnesty period reduces the surcharge to 10%of the original amount for all owed surcharges, having the maximum surcharge owed at $250. This amnesty surcharge is on top of all the other reinstatement fees required from the driver. This is only eligible for drivers who have unpaid surcharge assessed between September 30, 2004 to December 31, 2008.

All that's needed is the driver's license number and a computer to apply for the reduced surcharges on this page: https://www.txsurchargeonline.com/AmnestyOptin.aspx or by telephone at 1 (877) 207-3170. Applications are accepted only until April 7, 2011.

By giving the amnesty period for drivers, the Texas DPS hopes that drivers who have lost their ability to operate a vehicle be able to start the year right.

More information on the Texas DPS site here: https://www.txsurchargeonline.com/AmnestyMain.aspx.

Fulfill your Texas defensive driving course requirements online with our Texas Education Agency approved course.

Labels: defensive driving course, driver responsibility program, drivers license, suspended drivers license, texas defensive driving course, texas driver responsibility law, texas drivers license

Texans pride themselves on being, well, Texans --- this extends to all things --- even license plates! For a little more than a year now, MyPlates, the TxDMV officially-approved method of getting personalized-plates has been allowing Texans to spread their pride by giving them all of 6-characters to create a plate with.

And it doesn’t stop there --- motorists could even choose a background for these plates, which include new designs that are truly Texan, like “Lone Star State,” or “Don’t Tread on Me.”

This coming 2011, the TxDMV, along with MyPlates will be auctioning off pre-designed plates on January 13 at Cowboys Stadium. The difference? This will be the first-time ever that the TxDMV and MyPlates have designed plates with 7-characters. No more trying to spell "RANGERS" by putting down “RNGERS” in a plate: one of the to-be-auctioned plates is "Texas RANGERS."

Other sought-after plates are: "COWBOYS," --- and "STARS".
For the complete auction list, check out: http://www.greattexasplateauction.com/Combinations.

Proceeds from this auction will benefit the State of Texas General Revenue Fund, MyPlates and selected charities.

http://www.facebook.com/TxDMV

Labels: state of texas, texas drivers license, texas license plates

Texas has come up with a novel way to prevent drivers who have accumulated too many points on their record from accumulating any more. They have enacted Driver Responsibility Assessment law in the hope of curbing aggressive driving behavior before it becomes necessary to suspend a license, this law puts a price on aggressive driving and other offenses that could become quite a financial burden on some drivers.

The Texas Driver Responsibility Assessment Law places a financial penalty on drivers who have accumulated too many points over and above the cost of the ticket. Depending on the offense, a driver may have to pay a minimum of $100 per year in order to maintain their driving privileges. For example, a Texas driver with six points in a three year period will have to pay a one-time “Point Surcharge” of $100 but the assessments will continue each year if additional points are accumulated. Failure to pay the annual assessments will result in suspension of driving privileges.

Below is a breakdown of the assessment/surcharge offenses and costs:

Texas’ differs significantly from New York Driver Assessment law in the amount charged for more serious offenses such as DWI. The penalty will be assessed for three years if a driver is convicted of any one of the following offenses:

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), or a DWI-related offense

• First Conviction - $1,000 annual surcharge


• Second or subsequent Conviction - $1,500 annual surcharge


• DWI with Blood Alcohol Content .16 or greater - $2,000 annual surcharge

Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (Insurance)

• $250 annual surcharge

Driving While License Invalid

• $250 annual surcharge

Driving without a Valid License (i.e.; No Driver License, No Commercial Driver License, No Endorsement Violation, No Motorcycle License, Operate with License for other Class Vehicle).

• $100 annual surcharge

The above offenses do not receive points so the surcharge is automatically imposed after conviction. The surcharges are cumulative meaning that a driver convicted of a DWI has to pay a $1,000 fine for a three year period. If he is convicted of a second DWI within the three year period, he will have to pay an additional $1,500 for a total of $2,500 for each of the following three years.

Point Surcharge - A driver who receives six or more points within a three year period will be assessed $100 and an additional $25 for each point received over and above the original six. This is a one year assessment but the Texas driving record will be reviewed annually and the surcharge will continue to be assessed if the driver maintains six or more points on his or her record.

For example: A driver accumulates six points within a two year period. He is assessed a $100 charge for one year. During that next year, he receives two more points on his record and now has 8 points within a three year period. The following year he will be assessed $150.

For more information on Texas' Driver Responsibility Law, visit: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/drp/drp.htm

Labels: aggressive driving, defensive driving, driver responsibility program, driving record, point reduction, texas defensive driving course, texas driver responsibility law, texas drivers license

Nowadays in Texas, driver's licenses are used for more than proving proff that one is capable of driving, but also as a primary source of a citizen's identification. Meaning that the process of getting a Texas Driver's License entails several requirements that need to be presented and a process that needs to be undergone.

First off, an applicant must know what kind of license he/she is applying for. The first classification is an instructional permit. This is for first-time drivers as young as 15 years old to be able to legally operate a vehicle, if accompanied by someone who is at least 21 years old. This is the first step that drivers need to take before they could apply for their license. This type of driving permit entails a period of in-car training.

The second type is a provisional license. This is almost the same as an instructional permit, for drivers who are under 18 years old. It can be renewed annually, and is valid for up to 6 years. As part of the Texas GDL program, the provisional license removes several restrictions, but is still not a full unrestricted license.

The third kind is a classified/commercial driver's license (Texas CDL License). This is for drivers who are going to be driving commercial vehicles that need a CDL license.

Here are the steps to getting a Texas Driver's License:

• Gather the necessary requirements: 1 primary form of identification, and one secondary + two supporting documents or two supporting documents of identification, proof of residency, social security number, medical status/history, and any valid out-of-state driver's license (if any) and money for the fees.



• Fill out the application form from the nearest Driver's License Office. This step must be done in person.



• Taking a scheduled Texas driver's license test. Applicants of the ages 15-18 are exempt from this examination if they can provide a Texas Drivers Education Certificate. This consists of a knowledge test, a vision test, and then followed by a driving skills test.

After these steps, a driver will legally be able to operate a vehicle in Texas. Always drive carefully, and take note of restriction changes that might affect how a certain classification of license may change in restrictions.

Labels: commercial drivers license, texas cdl, texas drivers license

A quick survey into Yahoo! Answers or any similar service would yield the same result: drivers over 18 are confused if they are automatically eligible to apply for a license or not. In the state of Texas, this has been remedied by a new law.

As of March 1, 2010, driver's license applicants between the age of 18 and 24 are required to complete an approved driver education course approved by the Texas Education Agency and a driving skills test in order to hold a license.

Senate Bill 1317 created this requirement and authorized the development of a six-hour adult driver education course to create more responsible drivers belonging to this age group.

It specifically states that a driver in between 18 and 24 must undergo a driver education course, and not the other supplemental driving courses available.
18 to 24 year old applicants who are able to present proof of their completion of the course are not required to take the written highway signs and traffic laws test but must still complete the driving skills exam.

So if an applicant falls into the age qualification of 18 and 24 is trying to apply for a license, the answer is clear: finish a T.E.A.-approved driver education course and successfully pass the driving skills exam.

Labels: driver education course, driver safety, driver safety course, drivers license, driving skills, tea, texas drivers license, texas education agency, texas laws