Court & Detention Services - Citations

Failure to pay fine and fees or to appear or respond by mail per the instructions may prevent you from registering your motor vehicle and from renewing your driver's license.  Additionally, a $60 delinquent fee will be added.  There may also be a $30 Failure to Appear fee and a 30% collection service fee added to the total.

Options for Satisfying Citations

Only the person who received the citation can appear with a photo ID to address a ticket option unless the cited person is a juvenile.  Persons wishing to satisfy a ticket or citation have the following options:

1. Request a court date within 21 calendar days of receiving a citation so as to plead not guilty and request a trial by judge or trial by jury.

2. Pay the fine by cash, credit card, or money order/check payable to the City of Dallas. 

3. Request Driver Safety Course on moving traffic violations only, within 21 days of receiving the citation, with Texas Driver's License, proof of insurance, and pay an administrative fee.

4. Request to perform work release/community service.

5. Request to make payment plan arrangements.

6. Request a 30 day extension to pay the fine.

• After expiration of the 21 calendar days, an additional $60 will be added to the fine and the case will go into alias warrant status.
• All fine amounts are subject to change without notice.  Call (214) 670-0109 for offenses not listed or to confirm your fine amount.

7. Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility (Insurance)

If you receive a citation for Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility, you will need the following information to address this citation:

1. A copy of your Declarations Page from your insurance policy covering the time period in question

2. A copy of the citation

3. Your Drivers' License

You may submit this information to the Court for review and judicial ruling in the following ways:

1. In person, you may attend a session of Magistrate Court. Magistrate Court sees the first 90 citizens Monday – Thursday and the first 50 citizens on Friday. Our doors open at 7:00 am. Monday – Friday.

2. In person, you may drop the above listed information in the express-depository box located in the lobby of the Municipal Court at the below listed address only.

3. By mail, you may mail the above listed information to –

City of Dallas, Municipal Court
2014 Main St. Room 109
Dallas, TX 75201

You have 21 days from receipt of a citation to take action on the citation. Please be sure to enclose a copy of your drivers' license if you mail the above listed information, or drop it in the express-depository box. Please note that by utilizing the express-depository box, or mailing the requested information, this may not prevent your citation from going into warrant status.

If a person decides they do not want a trial and wish to enter a plea of guilty or "nolo contendere" (no contest), the fine can be paid, with photo identification, at the Municipal Court Customer Service Windows at 2014 Main Street and 111 W. Commerce.

Payment Methods for Court Fines and Detention Bonds

The Department of Court and Detention Services will accept cash, check, money orders, Master Card, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, Carte Blanche, and American Express.

Effective July 1, 2008, only Visa and Master Card will be accepted for credit card payments.

30 Day Extension of Time to Pay Citation Fines other than Parking Tickets

To request a 30 day extension of time to pay a fine, appear in person, with photo identification, within 21 days of receiving your citation and enter a plea of no contest or guilty at 2014 Main Street, 1st Floor or 111 W. Commerce.  Payment of a fine is considered an admission of guilt.  If you do not wish to enter a plea of guilty or no contest,  you will need to request a court date.

Payment of Parking Ticket or Extension of Time

Parking enforcement and parking  ticket adjudication are not under the jurisdiction of Court and Detention Services.  Please refer to the Public Works and Transportation webpage for Parking FAQ.

Driver Safety Course

If you have not participated in a driver safety course to satisfy a moving violation within the preceding twelve (12) months, you may request this option by mail, by submitting the following three documents within 21 days of receiving the citation. (Postmark is honored):

1. Photocopy of a Valid Texas Driver's License
2. Photocopy of Proof of Current Financial Responsibility
    (Insurance)
3. Pay the administrative fee with a check or money order, payable to the City of Dallas, for $107 or $132, if you are cited for speeding in a school zone. Please remember to write your citation number on your check or money order to ensure proper processing.

Mail to:

Court & Detention Services 2014 Main, Room 109 Dallas, Texas 75201

Or, bring your documentation "in person" to 2014 Main, 1st Floor or 111 W. Commerce.

After receipt and acceptance of the documentation, a packet of instructions will be provided with instructions for completion of this program.

If a person has exceeded the posted speed limit by 25 or more miles, they will not be eligible to request this program without judicial authorization; therefore, a court date must be requested for consideration into this program.