Got Two Tickets at One Stop? One Texas Course Can Now Clear Both
Senate Bill 296 changed the rule on September 1, 2025. Here is what it means for you.
Yes: since September 1, 2025, one course covers every eligible charge from the same stop
Senate Bill 296 (89th Legislature) amended Article 45A.352 so that when you are charged with more than one offense arising out of the same traffic stop, each charge is eligible for dismissal after you successfully complete one driving safety course. Before the change, only one of the tickets could be dismissed with a course and the rest had to be paid or fought separately.
The condition: each charge has to qualify on its own. A speeding ticket and a stop sign ticket from one stop both clear. A speeding ticket plus a no-insurance ticket does not, because the insurance charge was never a course-eligible offense in the first place (it is usually handled as a compliance dismissal instead).
What changed on September 1, 2025
| Question | Before SB 296 | Since September 1, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Two eligible tickets, one stop | One course dismisses one ticket. The other is paid, fought, or deferred. | One course dismisses both. |
| Three eligible tickets, one stop | Same: one dismissal per course, and you cannot take the course again for 12 months. | One course dismisses all three. |
| Tickets from two different stops | One course, one ticket. The 12-month rule blocks a second. | Unchanged. The new rule is for the same criminal transaction only. |
| How you make the request | Oral or written, by the appearance date. | In writing, on or before the answer date. |
| Court's administrative fee | Up to $10. | Up to $10 per offense (Art. 45A.358), so up to $20 for two tickets, plus the court costs on each citation. |
How to request it for more than one ticket
- List every citation number from the stop Officers often write two or three citations for one stop (speeding plus expired registration plus no seat belt is a common set). Each has its own number and sometimes its own answer date.
- Sort them into eligible and not Moving violations qualify. Compliance-type charges (insurance, registration, inspection, equipment) do not, and are usually dismissed separately once you show proof you fixed them. The full list is on who is eligible.
- Make one written request that names each eligible charge Use the court's form and write in every citation number, or file one form per citation, whichever the clerk prefers. State that the charges arise from the same stop and that you are requesting the driving safety course dismissal for each under Article 45A.352.
- Pay the court for each charge Court costs are per citation, and the reimbursement fee (up to $10) is per offense.
- Take one course, turn in one set of paperwork One certificate and one Type 3A driving record. Ask the clerk whether they want a copy filed against each case number; some case systems need it.
Tickets from different stops
The new rule is limited to offenses from the same criminal transaction, which in practice means the same stop. If you have two tickets from two separate days, the 12-month rule still applies: one course dismissal per 12 months. For the second ticket, ask the court about deferred disposition, which is a separate route with its own conditions.
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Common questions
Can one defensive driving course dismiss two tickets in Texas?
Yes, when both tickets come from the same stop and each one qualifies on its own. Senate Bill 296, effective September 1, 2025, amended Article 45A.352 so that each eligible charge from the same criminal transaction is dismissed after one course.
Does the multiple-ticket rule apply to tickets I got before September 1, 2025?
The amendment took effect on September 1, 2025. How a court treats a request for older tickets is up to that court; ask the clerk. For any stop on or after that date the new rule applies.
Can a no-insurance ticket be dismissed with the course along with my speeding ticket?
No. Failure to maintain financial responsibility is not a course-eligible offense. Courts usually dismiss it separately once you show you were insured on the date of the stop or have since bought coverage. The speeding ticket can still be dismissed with the course.
Do I pay the court fee once or once per ticket?
Once per offense. Article 45A.358 allows the court to charge the reimbursement fee, capped at $10, for each eligible offense from the same transaction, and court costs are charged on each citation as usual.
Do I need a separate certificate for each ticket?
No. One course, one certificate, one driving record. Some courts ask for a copy filed under each case number, so check with the clerk when you turn the paperwork in.
Please note: this guide explains Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 45A, Subchapter H (Articles 45A.351 to 45A.358) in general terms. It is not legal advice. Each court applies the rules to your case, sets its own fees and forms, and makes the final decision. When in doubt, the clerk of the court named on your citation is the authority.