Texas›Ticket dismissal›Other moving violations
Got a Texas ticket that isn't speeding? Most can still be dismissed.
Following too closely, failure to yield, a lane change, no signal, going too fast for the rain: the same 6-hour course that dismisses a speeding ticket dismisses these too. The law doesn't list violations one by one. It covers a whole chapter of them.
So the question is which chapter your ticket is in. One common ticket isn't in it at all, and it has a cheaper way out. Pick your violation.
By Road Ready Safety, TDLR provider CP1234 · Checked against Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 45A.351 and 45A.353 and Tex. Transp. Code §§542.401, 542.4045, 521.025 · Published October 6, 2026
Which violation is on your ticket?
Read the charge line on the citation. The fine range and whether the course applies depend on the section of law written there.
Following too closely
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §545.062
A rules-of-the-road offense, so the course applies if you’re otherwise eligible. Courts usually set the fine near the top of the range.
Failure to yield right-of-way
Fine range
$1–$200; $500–$2,000 if it caused a crash with injury, $1,000–$4,000 with serious injury
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §§545.151–.156, 542.4045
Still a rules-of-the-road offense, so the course can dismiss it. If the ticket says the failure to yield caused a collision, the fine range jumps (§542.4045), which makes dismissal worth more, not less.
Failure to signal, improper turn
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §§545.101–.104
Signal at least 100 feet before turning or changing lanes. Course applies.
Unsafe lane change, not staying in one lane
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §545.060
Course applies. Officers write this one often after a near-miss; the facts are also the easiest to contest if you didn’t do it.
Unsafe speed for conditions
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §545.351
Not the same as speeding over a posted limit, so the 25-over cutoff doesn’t apply. Course applies.
Disregarding a traffic control device or sign
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §544.004
Covers signs and signals other than a stop sign or red light. Course applies.
Stop sign or red light
Fine range
$1–$200
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §§544.010, 544.007
Officer-issued tickets qualify. Camera tickets are civil and work differently.
Texting or phone use
Fine range
$25–$99 first offense; $100–$200 repeat
Defensive driving
✓ Can dismiss it
The law
Transp. Code §545.4251
Course applies. The statute sets its own, lower fine range.
No driver license on you
Fine range
Up to $200 (more for repeats within a year)
Defensive driving
✕ Does not apply
The law
Transp. Code §521.025
Not a rules-of-the-road offense, so the course can’t dismiss it. It has its own out: produce a license that was valid at the time in court and it’s a defense to the charge (§521.025(d)). Many courts dismiss it at the counter for a small fee.
Why does one course cover so many different tickets?
Because the law names a part of the code, not a list of offenses. Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.351 makes the course available for any offense under the rules of the road (Transportation Code Subtitle C), with three additions and one hard exclusion.
The rules of the road
Chapters 541 to 600: speed, signs, signals, lanes, turns, yielding, following distance, phones. Any of them.
Under 25? Any moving violation
For drivers under 25 the law widens to every moving violation, and a course is usually required anyway. Under-25 guide
Never a CDL holder
If you hold a commercial license, or held one when you got the ticket, the course is out for every violation. What works instead
What's the fine, and does the course apply?
Fines are a statutory range; each court sets its amount inside it and adds court costs. "Yes" assumes you're otherwise eligible: a Texas license, no CDL, no course in the last 12 months.
| Violation | Fine range | Course can dismiss it? | Law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Following too closely | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §545.062 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | $1–$200; $500–$2,000 if it caused a crash with injury, $1,000–$4,000 with serious injury | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §§545.151–.156, 542.4045 |
| Failure to signal, improper turn | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §§545.101–.104 |
| Unsafe lane change, not staying in one lane | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §545.060 |
| Unsafe speed for conditions | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §545.351 |
| Disregarding a traffic control device or sign | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §544.004 |
| Stop sign or red light | $1–$200 | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §§544.010, 544.007 |
| Texting or phone use | $25–$99 first offense; $100–$200 repeat | ✓ Yes | Transp. Code §545.4251 |
| No driver license on you | Up to $200 (more for repeats within a year) | ✕ No, show your license instead | Transp. Code §521.025 |
The $1–$200 range is Transp. Code §542.401, the general penalty for rules-of-the-road offenses. Paying the fine plus court costs usually runs $150 to $300 all in. Every fine by violation
Which moving violations can't use the course?
Four, plus anything on a CDL. The law excludes them by name (art. 45A.353), and for three of the four deferred disposition is still open.
How do you dismiss one of these?
The same four steps as a speeding ticket. The only one with real risk is the first: ask before the appearance date on your citation.
- 1Ask the courtFor a driving safety course, in person, by certified mail, or by the court’s email or portal.By the appearance date
- 2Pay the court feeCommonly $144. Plus proof of license and insurance.When approved
- 3Take the course6 hours, online. $28 with us, certificate included.Within 90 days
- 4Submit and it’s dismissedCertificate plus a $12 Type 3A record if your court asks.Before day 90
What does Road Ready Safety charge?
$28, and that's the only number you'll see at checkout.
- The 6-hour TDLR-approved course (CP1234)
- Certificate the moment you finish, court and insurance copies
- Unlimited quiz retakes
- No delivery, rush or record fees
- Full refund if you request it before you complete the course or get your certificate
- Two costs we can't include: the court's fee and the DPS record, because the court and DPS collect those. Our full pricing policy
Quick answers
Can defensive driving dismiss a failure to yield ticket in Texas?
Yes, if you’re otherwise eligible. Failure to yield is a rules-of-the-road offense (Transp. Code ch. 545), and the course covers that whole chapter. Ask the court by the appearance date on your ticket.
Can I take defensive driving for following too closely or an unsafe lane change?
Yes. Both are Subtitle C offenses, which is the part of the Transportation Code the driving safety course law covers (Code Crim. Proc. art. 45A.351).
Which moving violations can’t be dismissed with the course?
Speeding 25+ over or 95+ mph, passing a stopped school bus, leaving the scene of a crash, a work zone offense with workers present, and serious traffic violations as defined for commercial vehicles. CDL holders can’t use it for any ticket.
Does the course cover a ticket for not having my license on me?
No. That offense is in the driver-license part of the code, not the rules of the road. Bring a license that was valid on the day to court; the law makes that a defense, and most courts dismiss it on the spot.
How much is the fine for these tickets?
Most rules-of-the-road offenses carry a $1 to $200 fine (Transp. Code §542.401), plus court costs, so paying usually runs $150 to $300 all in. Texting has its own lower range, and failure to yield that caused a crash has a much higher one.
Other ticket types
General information, not legal advice. Fines are set by each court inside the statutory range; confirm with the court on your citation. Road Ready Safety is a TDLR-licensed course provider (CP1234), not a court. Sources: Tex. Code Crim. Proc. arts. 45A.351, 45A.353; Tex. Transp. Code §§521.025, 542.401, 542.4045, 544.004, 545.060, 545.062, 545.101–.104, 545.151–.156, 545.351, 545.4251. Published October 6, 2026.