Options for Juveniles

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JUVENILE VIOLATIONS

All juveniles wanting to handle a traffic citation, request deferred adjudication, or request a driving safety course, must appear on your plea court date with a parent or legal guardian. State law requires this appearance of juveniles with a parent or legal guardian; therefore, no exceptions can be granted by the court office. A juvenile is an individual that is 16 years of age or younger on the violation date printed on the citation.

Juveniles who fail to appear in court may have an additional charge of failure to appear filed against them, and their driver's license may be suspended. A child and parent required to appear before the court have an obligation to provide the court, in writing, with the current address and residence of the child. The obligation does not end when the child reaches the age of 17. On or before the seventh day after the date the child or parent changes residence, the court shall be notified of the current address in the manner directed by the court. The obligation to provide notice terminates on discharge and satisfaction of the judgment of final disposition not requiring a finding of guilt.

Do you accept checks?

Yes. Checks must be made out to the Colleyville Municipal Court. Two-party checks are not acceptable. Returned checks will result in a $15 expense fee being assessed, and your case may result in a warrant for arrest being issued if the fees are not cleared up in a timely manner. To obtain a new court date on a warrant or a missed court date, the only form of payment is cash.

When is my court date?

A juvenile summons will be mailed to your current mailing address with your court date setting.

May someone else bring my payment to the court?

No. Only the defendant or their attorney may bring the payment to the court.

How much is my ticket?

Please see the schedule of fines section to obtain a fine amount or call the court office at 817.503.1300 for the due date and fine amount. Please have your citation available.

To obtain an extension of payment on your ticket, the defendant must appear on the court date and make a request to the judge.

JUDGE TRIAL OR JURY TRIAL COURT PROCEDURES

(Defendant wishes to plead "not guilty") The defendant must appear on his/her plea court date and enter the "not guilty" plea before the municipal court judge. At that time, the defendant needs to state if a judge bench trial is requested or a jury trial. The judge will issue the defendant a new court date. Judge trials are held on a separate court date as, at that time, the issuing officer is subpoenaed to testify. If a jury trial is requested, an additional court date is provided for any pre-trial matters to be discussed with the judge and prosecutor. The pre-trial hearing date is when the actual jury trial hearing date will be set.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS VIOLATIONS

A defendant can get this violation dismissed by bringing proof of the new address being corrected within 20 working days from the date of violation into the court office by the plea court date. The dismissal fee for this violation is $20. To obtain the correction on this violation, you will need to appear at the nearest Texas Department of Public Safety office to have your address changed on your driver's license, or you may pay the fine in full. Juveniles must appear before the judge on the plea court date.

DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS

The defendant can have this violation dismissed at the court window with a $10 dismissal fee by presenting a receipt and/or photo of equipment violation correctioned.

FAILURE TO DISPLAY DRIVER'S LICENSE VIOLATIONS

A defendant can have this charge dismissed by bringing in his/her valid Texas driver’s license to the court office on or before the original court date. A copy of the driver's license will be taken and placed for dismissal. The dismissal fee for this violation is $10. Without presenting proof you may pay the fine in full. Juveniles must appear before the judge on the plea court date.

EXPIRED VIOLATIONS

Expired Registration, Driver’s License and Inspection (expired less than 60 days)

The violations listed above can be dismissed if the violation is corrected within 20 working days from the date of the violation with a $20 dismissal fee. Please note on the violation of expired registration, your correction must show proof of the late fee being collected at the Department of Motor Vehicle office. The only forms that can be taken by the clerk's office are the following:

  • Registration: Department of Public Safety Title Application Receipt
  • Driver's License: Cardboard Renewal License or the actual Texas Driver’s License

ALCOHOL AND/OR TOBACCO VIOLATIONS

The defendant will need to contact the court to obtain information on these violations.

What are the court procedures?

The Colleyville/Keller Municipal Court is a people's court and it is legal for you to represent yourself. State law will only allow a licensed attorney to act on the behalf of someone else. A TELEPHONE CALL BY ANY PARTY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A COURT APPEARANCE.

INSURANCE-RELATED VIOLATIONS

Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility

If you were issued a citation for Failure to Maintain Responsibility and you, in fact, were covered by an insurance policy at the time and date the citation was issued, you may present proof to the court to have your citation dismissed. No faxes are accepted.

The proof must indicate the following items:

  • Defendant's name
  • The name and address of the insurer
  • Insurance policy number
  • Coverage dates
  • Phone number of insurance agency

The court office can only take a hard copy of an insurance proof. An electric version of insurance proof the court office cannot accept.

The statement of coverage must comply with the minimum amount(s) of liability insurance required by state law.

If the defendant is driving someone else's car, then a copy of the card is made and is noted on the copy for verification information.

A copy of the insurance presented is taken, and the court clerk will call to verify the insurance is valid. If an insurance card presented is invalid, the defendant will be mailed a subpoena to appear before the municipal court judge. No charge is collected on this violation, or you may pay the fine in full. Juveniles must appear before the judge on the plea court date. A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION OF ANY OFFENSE UNDER THE TEXAS MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY ACT WILL RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION OF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE AND MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION UNLESS YOU FILE AND MAINTAIN PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF CONVICTION. THE DEPARTMENT MAY WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT TO FILE PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU FILE SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT SHOWING THAT, AT THE TIME THIS CITATION WAS ISSUED, THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED BY A LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY OR THAT YOU WERE OTHERWISE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. V.C.S. ART 6701h.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

  • Do not take the course before obtaining court approval
  • If you hold a commercial driver's license (CDL), you are not eligible to take a defensive driving course.
  • If you are charged with a traffic offense written under the subtitle C, Texas Transportation Code, you may request the defensive driving class with the court clerk prior to your original court date or by appearing in court and requesting it from the judge. If your citation is past due, you will not be eligible for a driving safety course without making a court appearance before the judge. To request defensive driving, you must be able to provide a valid Texas Driver’s License, current liability insurance and be able to pay the state cost and a $10 administrative fee.

You are eligible to request this course if you:

  • Have not requested and taken a driving safety course for a traffic offense within the past 12 months
  • Are not currently taking the course for another traffic violation
  • Have not committed the offense of speeding 25 MPH over the speed limit
  • Have not committed one of the following offenses:
    • Fail to stop & render aid (accident)
    • Fleeing from a police officer
    • Speeding in a construction zone
    • Reckless driving
    • Passing or overtaking a school bus
    • A serious traffic violation under the Commercial Drivers Act, 15 MPH or more over the speed limit
    • Involvement in an accident
    • Improper or erratic lane changes, or
    • Following the vehicle ahead too closely

Prosecution of the traffic offense will be postponed for 90 days to allow you time to complete the course and return the signed certificate to the court office. You are required to attend a course that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency.

LOCATING THE DRIVER'S SAFETY COURSE

The court is not allowed to recommend a driving school. We can only refer you to the Internet or Yellow Pages of the telephone directory, under "driving instruction." Always confirm that the school is a Texas state-approved course for the dismissal of a traffic citation.

FAILURE TO COMPLETE A DRIVER'S SAFETY COURSE

Should you fail to complete any of the requirements, the court will send you a show-cause hearing notice requiring you to return to talk to the judge and explain why you failed to show proof of completion. Your failure to be present at that hearing will result in a warrant for your arrest being issued.