Driver Safety Course

If you are charged with a traffic offense, you may be eligible to ask the judge to take a Driving Safety Course (DSC) to dismiss the charge. Contact the court to find out if you can take a DSC for your charge. Do not take the course prior to the court approving it.

The court costs and fees are due at the time of the request (on or before the initial appearance date or at the time of your court appearance). Your request must be made in writing. At the time of the request you must do the following:

• Present your valid Texas drivers license, proof of active military duty, and proof of financial responsibility (automobile liability insurance that shows you as a covered driver)
• Plead guilty or nolo contendere
• Pay court costs and fees
• Swear to an affidavit that you are not currently taking a driving safety course and that you have not taken one that is not shown on your driving record

The case will be postponed for 90 days to allow you time to complete the course and obtain a certified copy of your driving record. You can order and instantly print out a certified copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety website, or you may order it by mail. You must attend a driving safety course that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency.

Eligibility

You are eligible to request the course if you:

• Have not completed a driving safety course or motorcycle operator training course within the 12 months preceding the date of the current offense;
• Are not currently taking the course for another traffic offense;
• Do not hold a commercial driver's license currently or at the time of the violation; and
• Are charged with an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle under Subtitle C, Rules of the Road, Transportation Code (Chapters 541-600) or Disobeying warning signs and barricades (Section 472.022 Transportation Code).

Requirements

By the end of the 90 day period, you must:

• Present a certified copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public Safety that shows that you have not had a driving safety course within the preceding 12 months; and
• Present the "court copy" of your DSC certificate of completion to the court. The certificate must be signed.
• If you do not take the course in the time required and/or fail to present the court with a certification of completion, you must appear at the show cause hearing to explain why you failed to show proof of completion. The show cause hearing date will be given to you at the time you complete your initial DSC paperwork at the court.