By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 21, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
Got a ticket in El Paso? If it came from El Paso police, your case is in El Paso Municipal Court, and you can almost certainly get it dismissed by taking a 6-hour TDLR-approved defensive driving course (Texas calls it a driving safety course, or DSC). The state rules are the same everywhere; what’s specific to El Paso is the court’s fee, its request deadline, and how it wants the paperwork. Here’s the El Paso version.
El Paso at a glance
- Court: El Paso Municipal Court (elpasotexas.gov/municipal-courts)
- Request deadline: before your scheduled arraignment date, or to the judge on your court day
- Court fee for the DSC option: court costs plus an administrative fee, paid within 10 days after the court mails your approval documents
- Course: any TDLR-approved online course, $28; you get 90 days
- Then file: certificate + Type 3A driving record (~$12) + affidavit
Step 1: request the course from El Paso Municipal Court
Submit your request online through the court’s citation payment portal, by mail to 810 E. Overland, El Paso, TX 79901 (include full name, date of birth, citation/case number, phone number and a check or money order), or in person at the Pebble Hills, Mission Valley, Northeast or Westside court offices
You’ll need your citation number, a copy of your Texas license, and proof of insurance. Plead no contest or guilty and elect the driving safety course; that plea is set aside when the ticket is dismissed.
El Paso’s two-step timing is unusual: you request first, the court mails approval, and then you have 10 days to pay. Miss the 10-day payment window and the approval lapses.
Step 2: take a TDLR-approved course
El Paso Municipal Court accepts any course on the TDLR-approved list; it doesn’t rank providers. The course is 6 hours online, self-paced, and $28 is the legal minimum. Our pick for El Paso drivers is DefensiveDriving.com: $28, instant certificate with free mailed originals for courts that want paper, and a guarantee to pay your ticket if the court rejects the certificate.
DefensiveDriving.com Our pick
$28- TDLR-approved; obtain court approval for your eligible ticket before enrolling, including El Paso Municipal Court
- 6-hour text course $28 all-in ($25 + $3 minimum charge for materials, supervision and administration), video $38
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- Provider advertises a ticket-dismissal guarantee up to $250; review written terms and eligibility
We may earn a commission if you enroll through this link, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Step 3: get your Type 3A driving record
El Paso Municipal Court, like every Texas court, needs a certified Type 3A record from the DPS to confirm you haven’t used the course in the past 12 months. Order it online for $12 and it downloads instantly. How to order it.
Step 4: file everything before the deadline
Submit a copy of your Type 3A certified driving record, the TDLR court-copy certificate of completion, and a copy of your insurance, by mail or in person before the 90-day period ends. Keep copies of everything and, if you deliver in person, ask for a stamped receipt. If you haven’t received a dismissal notice within two weeks, call the court and confirm the case shows as dismissed.
Not a city ticket? Check the court on the citation
Tickets from El Paso County Sheriff’s deputies, constables or DPS troopers (common on I-10 and Loop 375) go to an El Paso County Justice of the Peace court, which uses its own DSC form. The eligibility rules and the course are identical; only the form, fee and address differ.
What a El Paso speeding ticket costs if you just pay it
A typical El Paso speeding ticket runs $150–$300 in fine and court costs, and the conviction stays on your record for three years, where your insurer will see it at renewal. The DSC route costs the court’s fee plus about $40 (course and record) and leaves no conviction. If you don’t qualify for the course, or used it in the past year, ask the court about deferred disposition. Full breakdown: how much a speeding ticket costs in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take defensive driving online for a El Paso ticket?
Yes. El Paso Municipal Court accepts certificates from any TDLR-approved online course.
Do I have to appear in court in El Paso to request it?
Generally no; the court accepts requests by the methods above. Appearing in person is only needed if you’ve missed the deadline and need a judge to approve a late request.
Am I eligible?
If you have a valid non-commercial Texas license, current insurance, haven’t taken the course for a ticket in the past 12 months, and the ticket isn’t for 25+ mph over, 95+ mph, a school bus, a crash, or a work zone with workers present, the court must grant it. Full checklist.
What if I miss the El Paso request deadline?
Contact the court immediately. Some judges will still approve a late request; otherwise deferred disposition may be available. Don’t let it become a failure to appear.
Sources: El Paso Municipal Court published driving safety course instructions and forms; Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.352. Court fees and procedures change; confirm with the court before paying.