By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 21, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
If a Texas state trooper (DPS Highway Patrol) wrote your ticket, the DPS online citation search can tell you which court has it. It won’t show the fine, and you can’t pay through it: DPS troopers file their tickets with a county justice of the peace court, and that court handles everything from there, including the defensive driving request that can make the ticket go away. Here’s how to use the search and what to do next.
Quick answer
- What it covers: citations written by DPS troopers (Texas Highway Patrol), roughly the last two years. City police and sheriff tickets aren’t in it.
- You need: the citation number, your driver’s license number, and your date of birth.
- What you get: the court that holds the case (usually a JP court in the county where you were stopped) and its contact details.
- Next: contact that court by the appearance date on the citation. If you’re eligible, ask for a driving safety course instead of paying.
Who wrote your ticket decides where to look
| Officer / agency | Where the case goes | How to look it up |
|---|---|---|
| DPS state trooper (Highway Patrol) | Justice of the peace court for the county/precinct of the stop | DPS citation search, then the JP court |
| City police | That city’s municipal court | City court’s online citation search (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio…) |
| Sheriff’s deputy or constable | County JP court (precinct on the ticket) | County JP court website or phone |
| Toll authority / camera | Not a court case | The toll agency’s site |
How to use the DPS citation search
- Find the DPS citation search on dps.texas.gov (search “DPS citation search” and use the dps.texas.gov result).
- Enter the citation number, license number and date of birth exactly as they appear. Allow a week or two after the stop for the citation to load.
- Note the court and its contact details. That’s the court you’ll deal with; DPS can’t take payments or requests.
- Go to the JP court’s website or call the clerk. Many county JP courts let you plead and request a driving safety course by mail, email or online.
Lost the citation number? Call the JP court for the county where you were stopped (trooper tickets on a highway normally go to the JP precinct covering that stretch of road) with your name, date of birth and license number. The DPS regional office can also tell you which court a trooper filed with.
Eligible? Dismiss it with the course →
Do I have a ticket in Texas? Three checks
- Pending trooper ticket: the DPS citation search above.
- Unpaid or missed ticket: the Failure to Appear program’s search (texasfailuretoappear.com, run for DPS by OmniBase) lists courts that have placed a renewal hold on your license, and which court to call.
- Past convictions: your DPS driving record lists convictions courts have reported, not pending or dismissed tickets.
For city and county tickets, see the full Texas traffic ticket lookup guide.
Trooper ticket? You can still dismiss it
JP courts apply the same law as city courts. If you have a valid non-commercial Texas license and insurance, haven’t taken the course for a ticket in 12 months, and the ticket isn’t for 25+ mph over or 95+ mph, the court must let you dismiss it with a 6-hour driving safety course. Highway tickets are often for higher speeds, so check the speed on the citation first. Full eligibility checklist.
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- Provider advertises a ticket-dismissal guarantee up to $250; review written terms and eligibility
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Frequently asked questions
Can I pay a DPS ticket on the DPS website?
No. Pay the court named in the citation search (usually a JP court). DPS doesn’t collect fines.
Why doesn’t my trooper ticket show up?
It can take a week or two to be entered. Double-check the citation number and date of birth, or call the JP court for the county of the stop.
Does the DPS search show city police tickets?
No. Only citations written by DPS troopers. City tickets are searched on the municipal court’s site.
Can I take defensive driving for a DPS ticket?
Yes, if you’re eligible. Request it from the JP court by the appearance date.
Sources: Texas Department of Public Safety (citation search, Failure to Appear program, driver records); Texas Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45A.352. This site is not affiliated with Texas DPS.