Overheard a court clerk say something that changed how I see traffic tickets

I was at the municipal court in Austin waiting to pay a parking fine and this older guy was complaining to the clerk about a speeding ticket. She told him that if you just show up and ask for 'deferred adjudication' the judge almost always grants it for first-time offenders. I looked it up later and she was right - you pay the fine but no points go on your license if you stay clean for 90 days. Has anyone else tried this and had it work, or did I just get lucky overhearing that?

2 comments

2 Comments

simonmoore28d ago

Tried it myself a few years back after a friend told me about it. Got pulled over doing 45 in a 35 on my way to work and was freaking out about points on my license. Showed up to court, asked the judge for deferred adjudication just like that clerk said, and he approved it right there on the spot. Paid the fine, stayed out of trouble for three months, and it never touched my insurance. Honestly it felt like a cheat code (but a legal one, you know?). I tell everyone I know about it now, its one of those things that should be common knowledge but nobody talks about.

adam_anderson628d ago

@simonmoore I get why you'd say that, but I'd rather just pay the ticket and move on.