Municipal Court

APPEARANCES AND DISPOSITIONS: All citations and summonses are assigned a deadline to appear in the Castle Hills Municipal Court. This date cannot be extended, as it is simply the date by which a defendant (or their attorney) must notify the Court of how they wish to answer to their charges. 

Defendant (or their attorney) may appear in-person or by mail. No telephone appearances are permitted.

At this first appearance, a defendant (or their attorney) may request:

  • Acquittal of Insurance offenses – with proof of valid insurance card for the vehicle being driven, and indicating coverage for the vehicle being driven. Clerks are required to verify active coverage through the insurance company prior to preparing any dismissal paperwork.
  • Administrative Dismissal
    • Expired Driver’s License – requires proof of license renewal by deadline and a $20 fee, (to renew your license: www.texasonline.com )
    • Expired Inspection Certificate – IF expired less than 60 days, requires proof of inspection renewal by deadline and a $20 fee,
    • Expired Vehicle Registration – IF expired less than 60 days, requires proof of registration renewal (including county’s PENALTY FEE)  by deadline and a $20 fee,
    • Fail to Report Change of Name/Address- requires proof that the driver’s license was updated by the deadline and a $20 fee, (To update your license information: www.texasonline.com)
    • Defective Equipment -  requires proof of new motor vehicle inspection by deadline and a $10 fee
  • Driving Safety Course dismissal – with a plea of no contest, proof of a valid Texas Driver’s License, current liability insurance and payment of the required court costs, you may be able to request this dismissal option for certain moving violations, if you have not had a citation dismissed by a driving safety course in the 12 months prior to this offense. CDL holders are not eligible for this option.
    • The Clerk’s office will prepare the documents for you, or you can use this form to make your request by mail.
    • To request your Certified Driving Record (3A) for Driving Safety Course purposes: www.texasonline.com.
  • Deferred Disposition (probation) - with a plea of no contest, you may request that you be granted a deferred disposition (probation) dismissal if you are not currently on probation for another violation. The Clerk’s office will prepare the deferral order for you, or you can use this form to make your request by mail. CDL holders are not eligible for this option.
    • The total costs of a deferred disposition will be the same as the full fine amount and must be paid at any time and in any increment, during the period of deferral.
    • If you are charged with an INSURANCE offense , your request must be accompanied by proof of valid liability insurance. You will be required to maintain your liability insurance coverage throughout the period of deferral, and at the end of your deferral period, present proof to the court that you maintained insurance throughout the deferral period.
    • If you were under 25-years of age at the time of the offense, you must complete a driving safety course and present the certificate to the court before the end of your deferral period.
    • If you were under 18-years of age at the time of the offense, you must complete a driving safety course, re-take the DPS driving test and present the certificate and test results to the court before the end of your deferral period.
  • Payment Of Fine and Costs – payment of a fine constitutes a plea of no contest and waiver of jury trial and will result in a conviction for the offense(s) charged. For that reason, until a plea has been entered or a judgment rendered, only the defendant or their attorney may present payment to the court.
    • Partial Schedule of Fines – View this form to see a partial list of fines assessed by the Court.
    • Time to Pay – Fine and costs are expected to be paid at the time of judgment. However, the Court may grant you additional time to pay the amounts due. You may appear in person to make that request or you can use this form to make your request by mail.
    • Acceptable methods of payment include:
      • Cash,
      • Check (except for cases in warrant status)
      • Money order
      • Credit Card (service fees will be added to the amount being paid)
      • On-Line (service fees will be added to the amount being paid)
  • Fines Increased by $25 each time the following occur:
    • a setting date is missed
    • a failure to appear postcard is mailed, and
    • a failure to appear warrant is issued.
  • Court Costs Increased:
    • when a judgment is not paid within 30 days ($25),
    • when an arrest warrant is processed ($50),
    • when report of a warrant is submitted to DPS ($30),
    • when an unpaid balance is referred to collections (30%), and
    • when an officer serves a summons, ($35)
  • Pre-Trial Settings – may be scheduled if you are unable to handle your citation through any of these means, if you wish to have the prosecutor review your case, or if you wish to plead not guilty and start the trial process. You may appear in person to request a setting, or you can use this form to make your request by mail.