Deferred Disposition

Virtually all moving violations, with very few exceptions, are eligible for a deferred disposition. Successful completion of this probationary period will prevent a violation from appearing on your driving record. The length of the deferred disposition period can be anywhere between 90-180 days according to the judge’s ruling.

Be sure to check all eligibility conditions listed below before paying or submitting the deferred disposition request form.

Eligibility Conditions To Request Deferred Disposition for a Citation

  • You must not be currently participating in deferred disposition (probation) in any Court, including the Town of Westlake.
  • Your citation cannot have occurred in a construction zone with the workers present. This information will be contained on the front of your citation.
  • You must not have received a citation for 95 miles per hour or more, 25 or more miles over the speed limit in a regular zone, or 15 or more miles over in a school zone.
  • You must not possess a Class B or Class A driver’s license for commercial vehicles. You must only possess a Class C License (Regular Driver’s License)

If you do not meet all of the eligibility conditions above and you would like to enter your plea before the Judge, you must appear at the Court date and time listed on your citation. In some instances, State law will not allow the Judge to grant deferred disposition and therefore a personal appearance will not alter your ability to request probation.

If you do meet the eligibility conditions above, please refer to the request procedures listed below for your options to submit your deferred disposition request.

Deferred Disposition Request Options

The court must receive the request within 10 days of payment being made to be in accordance with state law. 

  1. Online: To submit your Deferred Disposition request online, please click here. 
  2. In Person: You may appear at the court window (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) and speak with the clerk. He/she will provide you with the appropriate request form and receipt for the full payment of your fine amount.
  3. Mail: You MUST fill out the request form and mail it to the court with the full payment of your fine amount. All requests and payments must be mailed/postmarked by the court date listed on the front of your citation. Failure to do so could result in the request being denied.

Unless you receive a letter in the mail that your deferred disposition request has been denied due to ineligibility, your deferred probation will begin on the date of payment, provided you have also submitted your request form. 

Deferred Disposition Compliance 

  • During the deferral period, defendants must drive and operate their vehicle without receiving another moving violation during the probationary period.
  • If you are under 25 years of age, you will be required to attend a driver safety course as a condition of your deferred disposition.
  • If you have a provisional license, you will be required to complete a deferred driving exam with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a condition of your deferred disposition.
  • Failure to adhere to this rule will result in the case being set for a show-cause hearing. The hearing will allow you the opportunity to provide proof of the emergency situation that resulted in you receiving another citation while on probation.
  • Upon successful completion of your probation period, the Judge will dismiss the case if you have not received another citation. You are not required to reappear in court or provide the Judge with a completion affidavit.