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◉ How Texas Road Rules Just Changed in a Big Way

Tag: Texas driving

Navigating Newly Adjusted Speed Limits in Texas

In the months ahead, Texas drivers may be in for a surprise to find that the Speed Limit(s) may not match the permanently posted road signs.
– Passed by the Texas House of Representatives on May 3 and Effective September 1st, 2023 is House Bill 1885; which empowers Texas Department of Transportation (DoT) engineers – without case-by-case approval from the statewide transportation commission – to temporarily change speed limit(s) for a portion of a road or highway.

The Importance of Adherence to New Road Rules

The reason for the change in policy is to promote safety under specific inclement weather or hazardous road conditions such as heavy rain, flooding, ice, and during roadway construction or maintenance. Although Texas DoT engineers do not need prior permission or notice to adjust the speed limit on a patch or road, they do have a requirement to inform the public of the speed limit change by way of “..a sign notifying motorists of the change in speed limit is posted not less than 500 feet but not more than 1,000 feet before the point at which the speed limit begins.”

A Solution to Adjusted Speed Limits

These temporary/repositionable road signs indicating the temporary speed limit will modify/supersede the posted speed limit by 10+MPH or the new indicated speed limit. So in short, be aware of the signs you pass because the permanent sign reading 70MPH may be overridden by a temporary sign reading 60MPH or even less. A costly oversight; but fortunately, a correctable one. The state of Texas allows its drivers to take a defensive driving course to dismiss a traffic violation once every 12 months.

Keep Your Record Clean

Taking an online traffic school course will prevent the demerit point associated with that violation from going onto your driving record, which will also keep your insurance from going up as a result of the ticket-as long as you provide them with a copy of the completion certificate for completing traffic school. When you complete the course for ticket dismissal, you will automatically receive a certificate to turn in to your insurance company. The school will provide you with a two-part certificate of completion – one portion is for the court, and the other is for your insurance company.

While speeding tickets aren’t anyone’s favorite thing, the safety of construction crews can’t be understated. Senator and former Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner Robert Nichols said of the bill: “Everybody was concerned and had speeding tickets in their mind, not safety in construction zones,” and “..We did a little more educating on it this time and it flew through both chambers pretty well.”

There is always an adjustment period after new road regulations are put into effect. This one seems to be fairly straightforward and hopefully, Texas drivers and roadworkers alike will enjoy an improved safety standard going forward.

Best Online Traffic School

For more common sense driving practices be sure to check out our blogs or for more information about online driver improvement courses, contact us at 800-800-3579.

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There are plenty of reasons why you might not want to pay your red light camera ticket. Maybe you object to red light cameras on principle, maybe you don’t think you really ran the red light, or maybe you just object to handing over your hard-earned money.

If you got your ticket in Texas, you might have more options than you think.

Before you get out your credit card or checkbook, think through these questions to make sure you have to pay that ticket.

If I don’t pay, will the debt be sent to collections?

Yes. Your unpaid red light camera fine will eventually be sent to a collection agency, and you may begin receiving collections calls.

If that sounds like too much hassle, you might consider just paying for the ticket.

If not, read on!

Will the ticket show up on my driving record?

No. By state law, unpaid red light camera tickets cannot be reported on the vehicle owner’s driving record and an arrest warrant cannot be issued.

Will I be able to renew my vehicle registration?

If you fail to pay your ticket, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or your local county assessor-collector can refuse to register the vehicle allegedly involved in the violation. This is known as a “scofflaw block.”

If you try to renew online directly through the DMV, your registration will be blocked. But if you go to the county assessor-collector office in person, you might be in luck. It’s up to each county to decide whether to enforce a scofflaw block. Some counties have decided that it’s just not worth the extra time and hassle to force drivers to pay their fines to cities.

According to the website TrashYourTicket.com, the following counties do not block vehicle registrations for outstanding red light camera tickets:

  • Calhoun
  • Chambers
  • Galveston
  • Harris
  • Potter
  • Tarrant

Will the unpaid debt hurt my credit?

State law says that unpaid red light camera tickets cannot be reported to a credit bureau. But depending on when the city where you received your ticket started its red light camera program, you could still be on the hook.

The statewide law regulating red light cameras took effect in 2007. According to The Dallas Morning News, any city that had a red light camera contract before 2007 is grandfathered and may report unpaid fines to a credit bureau.

If you got your ticket in one of the following cities, failing to pay will mean a hit to your credit score:

  • Dallas
  • Arlington
  • Cedar Hill
  • Coppell
  • Denton
  • DeSoto
  • Duncanville
  • Farmers Branch
  • Frisco
  • Garland
  • Houston
  • Irving
  • Plano
  • Richardson
  • Rowlett
  • University Park

Please note that this may not be a complete list – make sure to check when your city’s program started before deciding not to pay!

What if the city already ended the program?

Several cities in Texas have voted to end their red light camera programs, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for a ticket you received while they were in effect.

Cities may still collect fines for violations that were caught by the cameras. Houston, which ended its program in 2010, still collects fines and advises that no statute of limitations would bar the city from collecting the debt.

Make sure to find out the situation in the city where you received your ticket.

What are my other options?

If you want to fight or contest the ticket, follow the directions listed on the ticket to request this option from your court.

Don’t assume that because the violation was issued by a camera no one will be there to oppose you. According to Texas police departments, an officer reviews the footage of each violation and signs off before a ticket is issued. Be prepared to present your case, or consider hiring an attorney.