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Driving Safety Course
The Code of Criminal Procedure, Art 45A.351 states, "You may be able to require that this charge be dismissed by successfully completing a driving safety course or a motorcycle operator training course. You will lose that right if, on or before your appearance date, you do not provide the court with notice of your request to take the course."
To qualify to take the driving safety course (DSC):
- You must have and present a valid, non-commercial Texas driver’s license or permit; or be a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of the United States military forces serving on active duty.
- You must enter a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest).
- You must have been charged with an eligible offense as defined by Texas Transportation Code 45A.351.
- You must not have completed a Driving Safety Course or Motorcycle Operator Training Course within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense.
- You must provide evidence of financial responsibility (current vehicle liability insurance) at the time of the request.
- You must pay the court costs and administrative fee at the time of the request.
- Moving Violation: $144
- School Zone Moving Violation: $169
- If you are charged with more than one eligible moving violation from the same incident/traffic stop, you may take one Driving Safety Course to satisfy all violations. However, you must pay the required court costs and fees for each violation in order for each eligible offense to be dismissed.
Juveniles: Defendants 16 years of age or younger must make a formal court appearance with a parent or legal guardian in order to request permission to take a driving safety course.
You must check the eligibility criteria before applying.
- Speeding 25 miles per hour (mph) over the limit or more.
- Speeding 95 mph or more.
- Failure to Give Information at Accident Scene.
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident.
- Passing a School Bus Loading or Unloading.
- Any offense committed in a construction zone with workers present.
- A serious traffic violation, which applies to commercial motor vehicle operators.
The following documentation is required in order to request a driving safety course:
- Insurance card showing defendant’s name as a covered driver on the policy
- Defendant’s valid Texas Driver’s License (no CDLs)
- Signed Driving Safety Course Request Form (if online or by mail)
Requests to complete a driving safety course for a case can be done:
- In person at the clerk’s window located at 1200 Hwy 6 S. Sugar Land, TX 77478
- Request driving safety course online
- By mail - To P.O. Box 110 Sugar Land, TX 77487-0110. Documentation must be postmarked/received by the court prior to the court date on the citation in order to be eligible.
Please note: You must complete the request for the driving safety course option prior to taking the course. You must apply on or before your appearance date. If the request is not made by the court date, the defendant may lose this option.
Do not select "Pay Now" if you wish to take a driver safety course. Instead, select "Explore Options."
What's next?
Once your request has been approved, if you applied via mail, the instructions with a deadline for taking the course will be mailed to you within 3-5 business days. If you applied online, the instructions with a deadline for taking the course will be e-mailed to you within 3-5 business days.
Upon approval, the judge will give you 90 days to:
- Submit an original court copy of a Driving Safety Course completion certificate from a course provider certified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The certificate must be signed, must have Sugar Land Municipal Court listed at the court, and must be submitted to the court on or before the 90th day indicated on your Driving Safety Course order.
- Submit a certified (Type 3A) copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Your driving record must be submitted to the court on or before the 90th day indicated on your Driving Safety Course order.
Both documents must be submitted together to the court by the due date provided on the driving safety order. You can submit them:
- In person at the clerk’s window located at 1200 Hwy 6 S. Sugar Land, TX 77478
- Via the Document Submission Portal
- By mail - to P.O. Box 110 Sugar Land, TX 77487-0110. Documentation must be postmarked/received by the court prior to the due date.
- By drop box (located in the parking lot of the Court at the end of the sidewalk),
Failure to take the course and turn in the documents by the due date may result in a conviction being entered and payment of the remaining balance becoming due.