Harris County Traffic Court Records

Understanding Harris County Traffic Court Records

Navigating the legal landscape of traffic violations can be daunting. Especially when it involves understanding court records. In Harris County, Texas, traffic court records are public documents that detail traffic violations and the ensuing court proceedings. These records can be a valuable resource when trying to uncover a person's driver history. These records can be helpful to understand the process if you've received a traffic citation or a DUI.

We'll also outline how to run a Harris County traffic ticket search, as well as how to fight your traffic ticket. With over 3.5 million vehicle registered in this county, having the knowledge on how to lookup a person's driving history can be a useful skill.

Which Courts Handle Traffic Citations in Harris County?

Traffic citation cases are typically heard in the Justice Courts, at least those cases that are just criminal infractions. These courts handle a wide range of cases, including traffic violations and lesser crimes.

For more serious driving offenses like DUIs, these are typically heard in the Criminal Courts at Law. These courts handle misdemeanor cases, which include DUIs and reckless driving. In some rare situations, where a DUI ends up with an accident with someone being injured, these are tried as felony cases.

It's important to point out that the court handling your case can impact the proceedings. Different courts may have different rules and procedures. Knowing which court is handling your case can helpful in your preparation to fight any respective traffic citation. It can also be helpful to understand what to expect during the court proceedings. Remember, each case is unique and will be tried accordingly. The specific courthouse handling your case will depend on the specifics of your traffic violation or DUI, and whether it is a misdemeanor or felony case.

What Are The Most Common Traffic Citations in Harris County?

In Harris County, traffic citations are a common occurrence. They are issued for a variety of reasons, but some moving violations are more common than others. Here are top five most common traffic citations in the county:

1). Speeding: This is the number one reason for getting pulled over by law enforcment. Speed limits are heavily enforced to ensure the safety of all road users. This is also one of the leading cause of accidents in this county.

2). Running a Red Light or Stop Sign: This violation is also a major cause of accidents and is strictly enforced. While red-light cameras are no longer used in Texas, law enforcement is very attentive to these types of moving violations.

3). Driving Without a Valid License: Driving without an expired, suspended or invalid license can lead to significant fines, and impounding of your vehicle.

4). Driving Without Insurance: Insurance violations are taken seriously in this county, due to Texas state laws requiring minimum coverage. This is also why it is recommended that driver's get uninsured motorist coverage in case they are in an accident with someone without insurance.

5). Texting While Driving: This is illegal in every county in Texas. Texting while driving has become a big issue that has lead to countless accidents. Law enforcement takes this violation very seriously. It is recommended that everyone either turns their phone in airplane mode, or has a hands-free capability of using their phone while driving.

Each of these violations carries its own set of penalties. These can range from fines to points on your driving record, and in some cases, jail time and impounding of your vehicle. Understanding these common citations can help you avoid them. It can also help you understand the potential consequences if you are cited for one of these violations.

How to Lookup Harris County Traffic Court Records

Running a Harris County traffic court records search is fairly uncomplicated. These records are considered public domain, which means anyone can access them. These records will detail traffic violations and respective court proceedings. There are a few options where these records can be accessed online.

1). The first option is to visit the respective courthouse website and make your request for records directly online. This is typically the Justice Courts, for most moving violations. However, if the records are about a DUI case or reckless driving case, you will want to visit the county Courts at Law.

2). A second option is to contact The Harris County Clerk's Office. They maintain a comprehensive database of all court records, including traffic citations for all of Harris County.

3). Your third option is to use a public records website. These resources allow people to search these records online with a first and last name. These are also good resources to run driver abstracts and find out about a person's complete driving history.

How to Fight a Traffic Ticket in Harris County Texas

If you've received a traffic citation, you have the right to contest it. The process of fighting a traffic ticket involves multiple steps that we will outline for you.

Step 1: Plead "Not Guilty" and Request a Court Hearing: In order to fight your Harris County Traffic Ticket, you will need to plead "not guilty". Your not guilty plea must be made in person at the respective courthouse, which is typically the Justice Courts. Once you have summitted your plea in person, you'll need to request a court hearing date. This is where you'll present your case and any evidence you've gathered, as well as give the issuing police officer a chance to appear in court as well.

Step 2: Gather Your Evidence: Making sure that you have enough evidence to plea your case is paramount when fighting a traffic ticket. This might include photographs of the scene, witnesses, or expert testimony if that's an option. For example, if you were cited for running a red light, you might want to find a traffic camera photo showing the time of the incident.

Step 3: Prepare Your Defense:

Reading up on relevant traffic laws and any legal precedence can be helpful in preparing your defense. For instance, you can potential question the accuracy of speed detection equipment used, or when it was last calibrated.

Step 4: Consider Hiring an Attorney: Hiring an attorney can increase your chances success but these can be costly. Most people only opt for an attorney when they're dealing with a DUI case or other misdemeanor or felony cases.

Step 5: Do the Math of Fighting the Ticket: Finally, consider the cost-benefit of fighting the ticket. In some cases, the cost of hiring an attorney might be too much. If you don't think you have enough evidence then it might not be worth fighting the ticket. You can always opt to take a driver safety course to have a driving record point removed from your driving record, so that your insurance won't go up.