Dismiss Your Texas Texting or Cell-Phone Ticket

Texas's 2017 statewide texting ban (Texas Transportation Code §545.4251) makes it illegal to read, write, or send a text-based message while driving. The state law applies everywhere in Texas. Some cities — Austin, San Antonio, and others — passed broader local ordinances banning all hands-on phone use, not just texting. Both are Class C misdemeanors handled in the issuing court.

• State texting ban (§545.4251): reading, writing, or sending text messages — illegal everywhere in Texas.
• School-zone cell-phone law: ALL cell-phone use prohibited in active school zones (broader than the state texting ban).
• Local hands-free ordinances: in cities like Austin, all manual phone use is prohibited while driving.
• GPS use without manual input: typically not covered by state law, but local ordinances may be broader.

Texas cell-phone violations — both state and local — are Class C misdemeanors and are eligible for defensive driving dismissal under the same rules as speeding or red-light tickets.

• Non-CDL Texas (or out-of-state) driver's license.
• No prior defensive driving in the last 12 months.
• Citation isn't tied to a serious accident.
• Request received by the court before your appearance date.

First-offense state-level cell-phone fines run $25–$99, plus court costs that bring the total citation to roughly $100–$150. Local ordinance fines vary by city. Either way, the cost of paying is low — but the conviction triggers an insurance surcharge that typically runs $300–$900 over three years. Defensive driving (≈ $35 total) is almost always the cheaper path.

• Pay the ticket: $100–$150 fine + $300–$900 in 3-year insurance surcharges = $400–$1,050 total.
• Defensive driving: ≈ $35 total ($25 course + $10 court fee). One-time, no recurring impact.
• Net savings: typically $365–$1,015 over three years.