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General Information Regarding Citations
Plea and Payment
If you feel that you are guilty, or you do not wish to contest the charges alleged against you, a standard fine for the offense may be paid in person or mailed to:
Benbrook Municipal Court
911 Winscott Road
Benbrook, Texas 76126.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Contact the municipal court by calling 817-249-3000 to determine your fine information. Payments for most citations can be accepted in the form of cash, check, money order, or credit cards. We accept the following credit cards: Mastercard and Visa. CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR PAYMENT OF CITATIONS IN WARRANT STATUS.
If violator chooses to mail remittance of fine, the violator's copy of the citation should accompany payment for identification purposes. Violator is to include a written Plea with the payment. The plea can be hand written, or a copy can be printed from this website at:
Click here for the plea form.
Deferred Disposition
You may be eligible for deferred disposition on your citation, which may keep the violation from being reported on your driving record to the Texas Department of Public Safety. If you have questions, or to see if you are eligible for deferred disposition, please contact the Municipal Court in person by telephone at 817-249-3000, or in person by appearing at the Court office located at 911 Winscott Road, Benbrook, TX 76126.
Defensive Driving Request
You may be eligible to take a Driver's Safety Course for certain traffic charges which would require the citation to be dismissed, however, you will lose that right if you do not appear at the Municipal Court before your 10th consecutive day after the date on your citation.
Texas Law provides that a court shall defer proceedings and allow a person 90 days to present a course completion certificate. Other requirements are: (a) You must have a valid Texas drivers license or permit; and (b) The Texas Department of Public Safety records must indicate that you have not taken a course which resulted in a citation being dismissed in the past one year; (c) You must file an affidavit with the Court stating that you are not in the process of taking a course nor have you completed a course that is not yet reflected on your driving record and submit a certified copy of your driving record; and (d) The offense charged in the citation is an offense under Subtitle C of the Transportation Code, T.C. and is not for speeding 25 miles an hour or more over the posted speed limit at the place where the alleged offense occurred, is not passing a school bus, reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude the police, failing to give notice or render aid after an accident, or any violation committed in a construction zone with worker's present, and is not a severe infraction of the law; (e) you must not have been driving a Commercial Vehicle or possess a commercial driver's license. At the time of your request you are required to pay a fee and court costs and show proof of valid Texas Driver's License and Financial Responsibility.
Trial Request
If you feel that you are not guilty of the offense as charged, you must appear before the Municipal Court. If you wish to have a trial before the judge, it is necessary that you request a court date in person, or in writing, from the Municipal Court. You will be scheduled a date to return for your Municipal Court Trial. Verbal telephone requests will not be accepted. All requests must be made in person or in writing.
Extensions to Pay or Continuances
The Court Clerk can take your request for an extension. If approved by the Judge you will have 30 days to pay your cost in full. Payment plans will not be an option after the 30 day extension is approved.
Texas Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act Notification
A second or subsequent conviction of an offense under the Texas Motor Vehicles Safety Responsibility Act will result in the suspension of your driver's license and motor vehicle registration unless you file and maintain proof of financial responsibility with the Department of Public Safety for two (2) years from date of conviction. The Department may waive the requirement to file proof of financial responsibility if you file satisfactory evidence with the Department showing that at the time this citation was issued the vehicle was covered by a liability insurance policy or that you were otherwise exempt from the requirements to provide evidence of financial responsibility.
If you have received a citation for failure to maintain financial responsibility, you may appear at the Municipal Court office with proof that you were insured on the date of the offense, (before your due date) and your citation will be presented to the judge for dismissal after proof has been verified. WE DO VERIFY ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED AS PROOF OF FINANCAIL RESPONSIBILITY.
Texas Driver Responsibility Program Notification STATE SURCHARGES ON CITATIONS: TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE, SECTION 708.105 states "A conviction of an offense under a traffic law of this state or political subdivision of the state may result in the assessment of your driver's license of a surcharge under the DRIVER'S RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM."
Failure to Appear
If you Fail to Appear in Court as provided by law for the prosecution of an offense, you may be denied a driver's license or denied renewal of your driver's license.
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