If you drive, chances are you’ve been pulled over by law enforcement. Whether it’s for speeding, swerving, not having your headlights on, or running a red light, most drivers in the US have experienced a traffic ticket. In the state of Texas, speeding tickets are by far the most common—and it’s not hard to see why. Blame it on the wide lanes of the President George Bush Turnpike or the swoopy express lanes of Interstate 635 (you know what we mean), but Texans love to speed.
While speeding feels blissful in the moment, it has very real consequences—expensive consequences. Even worse, a ticket left ignored will turn into an arrest warrant; and if you get sent to jail, the judge may order you to post bond for release. DDD Bail Bonds of Dallas works with the people of DFW and North Texas every day when it comes to unpaid traffic tickets, and knows how burdensome they become. That’s why we’ve compiled a short list of ways to help you settle your unpaid traffic tickets while saving you money.
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Paying in Full
A speeding ticket is technically a criminal offense; paying it means you plead “no contest,” resulting in a guilty conviction in the eyes of Texas. Guilty convictions are then sent to the Department of Public Safety, which then updates your driving record—hence the reason your insurance rate goes up. If you’re the type of person who isn’t worried about paying for a speeding ticket and an expensive insurance policy (lucky you), be aware of the points you rack up.
Speeding up to 10% over the speed limit earns you a point on your license, and anything over 10% of the speeding limit will earn you two points. Once you reach six points, you’ll get an expensive surcharge that charges $100 for the six points and $25 for each additional point. If you don’t pay these surcharges, your license will be suspended which may lead to even more fines, convictions, and offenses.
Defensive Driving
Taking defensive driving in Texas is an excellent way to save money and avoid the consequences of traffic convictions on your record. The state of Texas allows drivers to take defensive driving once a year to dismiss a ticket—making a huge difference on driving records. However, you must apply to take defensive driving. A Texas court decides whether or not you’re eligible for defensive driving, and if you are, gives you 90 days to complete the course and send your certificate with required documents. Considering everything is completed and turned in by the deadline, the ticket will be dismissed from your driving record and your insurance rate will return to normal.
Pleading Not Guilty
If you believe the officer was wrong or that you weren’t speeding, you have the right to go to trial. However, because speeding tickets are a criminal offense punishable by fine only, the state of Texas will not provide you with a lawyer for your case. If you choose to represent yourself in court, you’ll be held to the same standards as a licensed attorney, and should be very well-versed in legal jargon and court processes. If you choose to go this route, we highly suggest hiring an attorney to represent you in court. DDD Bail Bonds of Dallas can help you get started on the right track—give us a call to learn more.
SEE: No Cash for a Bail Bond? No Problem
Settle Unpaid Traffic Tickets With a Bond
Did you know that DDD Bail Bonds of Dallas can help you settle your unpaid traffic ticket without paying in full? If your ticket has either turned into an arrest warrant or amounted to an expensive fine that you can’t afford to pay, we can help. Don’t be afraid of unpaid traffic tickets, expensive warrants, or additional fines; DDD Bail Bonds can help you get on the right track with a traffic ticket bond. When you go through us, you don’t have to pay the full amount of your warrant, unpaid tickets, or accompanying fines.
If you have an arrest warrant for your unpaid tickets, DDD Bail Bonds will issue a traffic ticket bond and help you set a court date so you can resolve your case without going to jail or paying all your expenses at once. All you have to do is pay 10% of your total fine and we’ll help set a new court date, so you can breathe without worrying about arrest or mounting fines. We understand the pressure of expensive tickets and arrest warrants, and can help you resolve it. Call our office today to see how we can help settle your warrant, set a court date, and put your unpaid traffic ticket behind you.