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[bluestreak]

For those of us that live in Texas........You may not be aware of a way to defend yourself against a ticket.
Texas law article 45.0511 of the Code of Criminal Procedure allows an individual to take a motorcycle defensive driving class or motorcycle safety course as a "Defense Against Prosecution" for a traffic fine.  This also applies to tickets received while you were driving a car.  You can down load info on this from the DPS site.  You must ask for the court’s permission to use this procedure when you appear in court for the ticket.  If the court grants you permission, you take the defensive driving course and present evidence of such at a later date determined by the court to dismiss your case.  My city of Houston judge wasn't aware of this procedure when I requested it at the time of my court appearance.  He had his clerk download the info from the site and granted my request as soon as she brought it up on the internet site. Normally when you go to court for the ticket, you talk to the assistant DA before you talk to the judge.  If the assistant DA denies your request, just wait until your called and make your request to the judge when your called up.  That's what happened to me when I went.  The assistant DA was a real b!tch an denied my request immediately when I asked her and told me to SIT DOWN! and wait to be called.  When I was called up, I politely asked the judge.  He admitted he'd never heard of that procedure and immediately requested his clerk to research the code.  It took her about two minutes to pull up the data on the internet and handed it to the judge.  He quickly read it and granted my request on the spot.  The assistant DA was noticeably pissed off because I went around her.  She was sitting right next to the judge and I could see her staring a hole through me as I asked the judge for permission to take the course. Screw her!
Just wanted to pass this info on to those that may find it useful.

[wwaggett]

I take it that you put Texas law article 45.0511 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to good use? 

[larry_357]

  I just take mine to Bradshaw in Deer Park lol

[Lucky]

Actually there is info on your ticket telling you that you have the option of taking Defensive Driving Course (either by car or MC) as opposed to going to court.  You send in the request along with your standard court fees and they send you an authorization to do it.  You have 90 days to take the course and provide them with proof.  You actually never have to set foot in the courthouse.  You don't save tons of money this route, but you do get the ticket wiped off your record and can send the insurance company proof of course completion also and maybe get a discount.  You can ONLY DO THIS ONCE PER YEAR!!!!!   I tend to get a ticket about every 12-18 months, so I am VERY familiar with this process.  I take the defensive driving course online thru https://www.defensivedriving.com/ddo/login.html   It is very easy.

[Dusty]

The last ticket I got was in my truck in Universal City on 1604 by SanAntonio back in Jan. 80 in a 65. 300 miles away. They restrict you to three defensive driving online driving schools. As nerdy as it sounds, although it was pretty long, it was nothing like the the courses I had taken in the past. Instead of trying to make it entertaining and silly, the one I took actually had some informative info that I had not thought about. Didn't save me any money, but saved me the hassle of having to return for court.

Seems the older I get the less hassle I want or will tolerate. My drive to work over the last 28 years has gone from a leisurely 20 minute drive to a 45 minute drive in bumper to bumper traffic. If people would accept that if we were to all leave a 2 second gap and travel at the same speed we would all get there faster and safer without all the damn yo-yoing in traffic. And to all the young punks and bitches that think just because you're in a hurry that you have the right to weave in and out of traffic to gain another 18 feet at the risk of causing an accident. I still get road rage and I carry. I have noticed more and more people slowing down and leaving a gap to allow them room to stop if needed but more than that they control the speed of traffic and eliminate the yo-yo so that traffic flows constant. Try it. "Leave a space, it's not a race" 

[j1mmyj4m]

  I just take mine to Bradshaw in Deer Park lol

Wow, you use him as well?  He must bank if he covers most of Houston and surrounding areas.

[larry_357]

 Yes and when I was at Nova must have been at least 6 or so that used him as well lol