Fort Worth Municipal Court: requesting a driving safety course

Fort Worth Municipal Court works differently from most big Texas courts in one way: you don’t pay when you ask. You request the course first, and the court’s approval notice tells you what to pay.

Requesting the course

You have 21 calendar days from the date the ticket was issued. After that, a judge has to approve the request.

Ways to request:

• Online, with the court’s citation request form.
• By mail: mark the guilty or no contest plea and the driving safety course option on the back of your citation (or write a letter if you’ve lost it). Include a copy of your Texas driver license and proof of insurance. The court says: “Do not send any money when making your request.” If you’re mailing near the deadline, use certified mail, return receipt requested.
• In person at the A.D. Marshall Public Safety & Courts Building, 1000 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth, TX 76102, with the same documents.

Wait for approval

The court says not to take the course or order your driving record until you’ve received approval. When it arrives, the notice tells you the amount to pay and what to do next.

Who can use it

Fort Worth’s page says you must be at least 17, and speeding must be no more than 24 mph over the limit — the same as the state’s “25 mph or more” exclusion.

After the course

The court’s page doesn’t spell out the paperwork, but it points you to the DPS driving record. State law requires the completion certificate, a Type 3A driving record (how to order it) and an affidavit within 90 days. Follow the instructions in your approval notice — they’re the ones that count.

Questions: the court’s driving safety office is on 817-392-8675.