Procedures & Fines

The City of Hudson court docket is the schedule of the court. Defendants will be expected to adhere to the procedures and protocol of the court at all times, including proper attire.

All mobile devices, including phones, must be turned off. Photography and audio recordings are prohibited. No food or drink will be allowed in the courtroom at any time.

If you have an active warrant, the court is a Safe Haven designation. Safe Haven is a non-arrest court policy for individuals that volunteer to appear to the court. To resolve citation/ticket issues.

Please consider this a courtesy reminder to those who may have unresolved traffic citations with the city. If you do not respond in a timely manner (12 days), it may result in the following actions being taken against you.

Issuance of Warrant and Wanted Status Reported to Appropriate State and Local Agencies
Warrant Fee and other fees totaling up to $80.00 being added to the current fine, and additional VFTA (Violate Written Promise to Appear) which can total another $225 being added to the orginal fine
Arrest and Detainment (Arrest can be made at your home, while driving, or at your place of business. If arrested while driving, YOU will be responsible for charges assessed for the towing and storage of your vehicle.)
Collection Fee equal to 30% of the unpaid balance being added to the total owed
A hold being placed on your Driver’s License renewal

Indigence. If a defendant is indigent or otherwise too poor to pay either the appeal bond or the transcript, she\he may file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court and a Motion to Waive Costs within the ten (10) day period to file an appeal bond. A hearing on the motion to waive costs shall then be scheduled by the court.

Inability to Pay Fine. If a defendant does not appeal the court's decision but is unable to pay the fine when due, the defendant must appear at the clerk's office and request their case be set on a show-cause docket. If the defendant qualifies, the court may allow the defendant to pay the fine in installments or discharge the fine by performing community service. If community service creates an undue hardship, the judge may enter a finding of indigence and waive fines and fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to take care of a traffic ticket?

You have twelve (12) days from the date of the citation to contact the court and make a plea to the charges. You must enter a plea on each violation of Not Guilty, Guilty, or No Contest. If we do not hear from you within 12 days from the citation date, additional charges may be filed against you and a warrant may be issued.

If I plea Not Guilty, what do I have to do?

You must plea Not Guilty in person. When you plea Not Guilty to a charge, you will be provided an appointment to see the City Judge.

Can I pay my tickets by credit card?

Credit cards are currently accepted in person, by phone or thru web pay. Otherwise, we accept cash, money orders or cashiers checks. If you are mailing your payment, please put Attention Municipal Court. All credit card, or debt card payment will have a processing fee no matter if it is done online or in person.

Can I take Defensive Driving to resolve my ticket?

You may be eligible for Defensive Driving for your citation or Deferred Disposition. Please contact the court clerk for approval.

Qualifications to take Defensive Driving
You may qualify to take a Defensive Driving Course to dismiss one violation on your citation if you have not taken Defensive Driving in the preceding twelve (12) month period and have a valid Texas driver's license. You can not take Defensive Driving for the following violations:

Passing a School Bus
Speeding in excess of 24 mph over the speed limit
Reckless Driving
Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Failing to Stop and Give Information/Render Aid
Any offense committed in a Construction Zone with men working
Any violation committed while driving a Commercial Vehicle other than Parking, Vehicle Weight, or Vehicle Defect violations

Requesting Defensive Driving
If you qualify to take Defensive Driving , you must do the following:

Request within twelve (12) days of the Citation date, either in person or by mail, to take Defensive Driving.
Bring your DPS driving record, copy of insurance to the municipal court clerk
Pay the required fee, which includes the State Fees and the Administration Fee.
Give a written plea of Guilty or No Contest.

Taking the Defensive Driving Course
You will have ninety (90) days from the date of the citation to complete a Defensive Driving Course and provide Municipal Court with a certificate of competition. The State will send a Certificate of Completion to you by mail. You must sign and return the original Court Copy of the Certificate of Completion to the Municipal Court to have the ticket dismissed. The Certificate of Completion must be returned to the Court within the allotted 90 days.

Failure to Complete the Defensive Driving Course
If you fail to complete the Defensive Driving Course and return the certificate within ninety (90) days of the citation date, a courtesy letter will be mailed to the address on the citation to notify you to pay the balance of the citation. Failure to appear will result in additional fines and/or a Warrant being issued for your arrest.

NOTE: Holders of a CDL do NOT qualify for Driver’s Safety Course or Deferred Adjudication.

What do I do if I have a warrant?

If you have outstanding warrants, you may do one of the following to have the warrants cleared:

Call the Court at (936) 875-2358 EXT. 104

Set up a payment plan

Pay the fine in full

Please contact the court at 936-875-2358 EXT.104 or come in person to 3458 Ted Trout Drive, Hudson, TX 75904 to make arrangements. NOTE: You will not be arrested if you come to court to clear a warrant

Can I tell the Judge my side/ my story?

Please note that the Judge CANNOT discuss the merits of a pending judicial proceeding prior to trial. (Canon 3(5), Code of Judicial Conduct). This means that the judge shall not discuss your case prior to trial. You may plead not guility can request either a bench trial or a Jury trial. All citaitions/tickets are considered class c, this means we DO NOT provide any legal aid in your case.

What is the difference in Guilty, No Contest, and Not Guilty

You may plead either “Guilty,” wherein you admit that you violated the law and have no lawful defense/excuse for committing the act, or “No Contest,” wherein you are not admitting Guilt, nor are you admitting Innocence. You are simply not contesting the State’s charges. A plea of “Not Guilty” means you are either denying Guilt or that you have a lawful defense and the State must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. You may hire an attorney to represent you; however, the Municipal Court of the City of Hudson is not required to provide you an attorney. Due to being class c court only.

How do I get Deferred to resolve my ticket?

In general, persons charged with a moving traffic offense (other than No Insurance or No Drivers License) may request Deferred Disposition from the Municipal Court. You do not have to see the judge. You must however contact the municipal court clerk before payment of citation/ticket.

To be eligible for deferred disposition you:

Must not possess a CDL license (Commercial Drivers License);
Must not be charged with a violation occurring in a construction zone;
Must not have been issued a traffic offense in which an accident occurred.

The conditions of deferment shall be 90 days without conviction for a moving violation and payment of the fine and fee in full.

Failure to strictly comply with the deferment order may result in revocation of the deferment and entry of a judgment of guilty and imposition of a fine and costs. Upon successful completion of deferred disposition, the charge will be dismissed.

Contact Info

Court Clerk
3458 Ted Trout Drive Hudson, TX 75904
(936)-875-2358 EXT. 104
mc@cityofhudson.net