Bastrop County Defensive Driving
If you've recently received a ticket in Bastrop County, whether in Elgin, Bastrop, or another city, you may be able to have it dismissed by taking a defensive driving course (which is also referred to as a driving safety course). Here's what you need to know and how to start the process:
First, make sure you are eligible to have the ticket dismissed. It is up to the Bastrop County Court to determine whether you can take a defensive driving course/driver safety course to dismiss the ticket. You must contact the Court to ask if your ticket is eligible for dismissal. If the court approves you to take a course, you are eligible to take our 100% online, easy and simple Texas Defensive Driving course. You must contact the Bastrop County Court to request the driving safety course (DSC) option prior to taking a course.
Bastrop County Driver Safety Course (DSC) eligibility requirements for ticket dismissal:
The following could make you ineligible to take a Driver Safety/Defensive Driving course:
- You hold a Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
- You completed a Court-ordered driver safety course within the 12 months preceding the date of the offense for another ticket
- You do not have a Texas Driver's License
- You were charged with speeding in excess of 25 mph over the posted speed limit, committing an offense in a construction zone when workers are present, or passing a school bus while loading or unloading children
- You were cited for failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility (proof of insurance)
NOTE: It is recommended that even if you are considered ineligible for one or more of the reasons above that you still contact the Bastrop County Court to determine your eligibility.
If you wish to take a driver safety course, please see the below options:
Option #1: Request in Person — Your first option after receiving a ticket is to appear in person or by counsel to court on or before the date listed on the ticket.
After entering a plea of no contest or guilty, if eligible, the judge will require that you successfully complete a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) approved driver safety course or another course approved by the court.
Option #2: Request in Writing — Your second option after receiving a traffic ticket is to request in writing to take defensive driving. This written requirement can most often be satisfied by simply filling out the back portion of the ticket itself and mailing it back to the court.
The back of the ticket allows you to enter a plea of no contest or guilty and request to take a driver safety course that is approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).
If you are approved to take the course, the court will send you a letter. Do not take the course unless you have been approved.
If you are under 25 years of age, you must take a driver safety course AND the Alive at 25 course. Alive at 25 is a highly-effective four-hour course that serves as an excellent complement to standard driver education programs.
For more information about the Alive at 25 course, contact the Bastrop County Courthouse at (512) 581-7100.
Next, register for our Texas Defensive Driving course. Make sure it is the person who got the traffic ticket that registers, not another family member or friend, as this will also be the name on the Certificate of Completion.
Lastly, order your Certified Texas Driving Record, which all Texas courts will require in addition to your Certificate of Completion.
Once you've registered, you can begin the Texas Defensive Driving course. Log in and out as much as you like, the test will pick back up where you left off, however the course must be completed within three months of registering. The course is user-friendly and section quizzes can be taken multiple times. The American Safety Council also provides 24/7 customer assistance via live chat and email.
After you've completed the easy and painless course, we will process your Certificate of Completion. The certificate will be available for download in your account within 7 days of graduation. Expedited mailed options are also available during checkout. If an expedited mailed option is selected, it is very important that you provide a valid address. Failure to do so can result in your ticket not getting dismissed, even if you have completed the course.
Once you have received both the Certificate of Completion and your Certified Texas Driving Record, submit them to the Bastrop County Court, per their instruction.