Pleas
Under our American system of justice, all persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. On a plea of not guilty, a formal trial is held. As in all criminal trials, the State is required to prove the guilt of the defendant "beyond a reasonable doubt" of the offense charged in the complaint before a defendant can be found guilty by a judge or jury.
Your decision concerning which plea to enter is very important. Please consider each plea carefully before making a decision. If you plead "Guilty" or "Nolo Contendere" in open court, you should be prepared to pay the fine and court costs immediately. The Court will inform you regarding fine payment requirements.
A phone call to the court regarding your citation is not an appearance.
Plea of Guilty
By making a plea of Guilty, you admit that the act is prohibited by law, that you committed the act charged, and that you have no defense or excuse for your act. Before entering your plea of Guilty you should understand the following:
- The State has the burden of proving that you violated the law (the law does not require that you prove you did not violate the law);
- You have the right to hear the State’s evidence and to require the State to prove you violated the law; and
- A plea of Guilty may be used against you later in a civil suit if there was a traffic accident (another party can say you were at fault or responsible for the accident because you plead guilty to the traffic charge).
Plea of Nolo Contendere or No Contest
A plea of No Contest means that you do not contest the State’s charge against you. You will almost certainly be found guilty unless you are eligible and successfully complete a driving safety course and/or court-ordered probation. A plea of No Contest cannot be used against you in a subsequent civil suit.
If you are not a citizen of the United States a plea of guilty or nolo contendere may result in deportation, exclusion from admission to this country, or the denial of naturalization under federal law. If you have questions about the plea you are entering in open court on the above-noted date and time, please consult an attorney prior to your court date.
Plea of Not Guilty
A plea of Not Guilty means that you are informing the court that you deny guilt or that you have a defense in your case and that the State must prove what it has charged against you. If you plead not guilty, you will need to decide whether to hire an attorney to represent you. You are not required to hire an attorney. You may represent yourself.
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving violence where you are or were a spouse, intimate partner, parent, or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or ammunition, pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section 922 (g)(9) or section 46.04(b). Texas Penal Code. If you have any questions about whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm, you should consult an attorney.
Juveniles (16 and under)
You are required to appear for a trial along with a parent or guardian, even if you are represented by an attorney. A court date will be mailed to the parents or legal guardian. If you do not receive a court date from the court within thirty (30) days, contact the court. Failure to appear may result in a revoked driver's license or denial of driver's license reinstatement or renewal. The juvenile and parent must notify the court in writing of a change in the juvenile's residence address within seven (7) days of the change. A violation is a Class C misdemeanor. This obligation does not end when the juvenile reaches age 17. The obligation terminates only upon discharge and satisfaction of the judgment.