The first step in resolving your citation is to read the
back of the citation. You have 15 days from the date your citation was issued to
appear in court. After 15 days a warrant may be issued for your arrest. You may
pay most citations
online,
or at the Municipal Court during business hours, if you do not
want to see the Judge or the Prosecutor, and want to enter a guilty or no
contest plea.
Plea of Guilty -
Upon entering a plea of guilty, you admit that the act
is prohibited by law, that you committed the act charged, and that you have no
defense or excuse for your act.
Plea of Nolo Contendere (No Contest)
- A plea of Nolo Contendere means that you neither admit
to nor deny the charge, but do not wish to contest the State’s charge against
you. Within municipal court, a plea of no contest has the same legal effect as a
plea of guilty.
Plea of Not Guilty -
A plea of not guilty means that you are informing the
Court that you deny guilt or that you have a defense in your case. With a plea
of not guilty, you will have the opportunity to offer explanations or defenses
regarding your citation by seeing the Prosecutor. (See Prosecutor’s Hours) At
this point you have the option of proceeding with a trial.
Probation -
With a plea of guilty or no contest, you may be eligible
for probation known as deferred disposition. To request probation, you
must appear in person at the Municipal Court office and pay the special expense
fees. To be eligible for probation, you must not have been on probation
in Saginaw within the past year. As a condition of your probation, you must not
receive another citation in the City of Saginaw during your probationary period
(other conditions may apply.) Probationary periods are up to 180 days. At the conclusion of your probation,
the Judge will dismiss your citation provided that you met all stated
conditions. This keeps the violation from being reported to the Texas Department of
Public Safety (DPS), and should not affect your auto insurance.
Defensive Driving -
If you are
charged with a traffic moving violation, you may request to take a driving
safety course for any one violation shown on the citation you were issued. You
must meet all eligibility requirements to qualify for this option. You will pay
a fee to the court when the class is requested. The class must be approved by
the Department of Public Safety or Texas Education Agency (class must be state
certified). You must show proof of completion for your citation to be dismissed.
(Contact the court for eligibility requirements and additional information).
If the
court grants permission to take a driving safety course, you will be required to
request a copy of your driving record from the Texas Department of Public
Safety. You may make this request by
clicking here.
Dismissals -
The following offenses may be dismissed with no charge
if the defendant brings proof of a valid driver’s license and proof of
insurance to the Municipal Court within 15 days after the citation is issued.
- Fail to Maintain Financial Responsibility
- Fail to Display a Valid Driver’s License
The following offenses may be dismissed for a $10
administrative fee if the situation is corrected within 15 days after the
citation is issued and proof is provided to the court.
- Displaying Expired License Plates
- Driving with an Expired Driver’s License
- Driving with an Expired Inspection Certificate
- No Driver’s License
Warrants -
If you fail to meet any or all the obligations set forth
by the court, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest. All warrants are
entered in the regional computer system, which will result in your arrest by any
peace officer. If a warrant for your arrest has been issued, you should come to
the court immediately. If you are unable to pay your warrant in full, a payment
plan can be arranged with the court.
