jingles1

Hi

Can anyone help me with this question? I moved to Houston, Texas a few months ago but never got round to taking the Texas Driving test. Partly because I was told I had a year to take it, but apparently it is 30 days after residency. I have a UK license. I was stopped the other day for speeding, and also ticketed for "fail to obtain TX license within 30 days". Apparently it takes 10 days for the citation to appear on the website. In the meantime I am worrying myself to death that I have to appear in court. I just want to pay a fine and be done with it if possible.

My question is, how serious is this offence? Will it just be a fine, or will I have to appear in court (I really want to avoid this....). Some people say it is as serious as having no license, and others say it will be a straight $165 fine, and no need for a court appearance.

Has anyone have any advice?

englishinfl

As you had a UK licence to show, I don't know why you just wouldn't say you were there on holiday and were going back to England in 2 days.

Exactly what does it say on the citation ticket they gave you about the cost of the fine, and what did the police officer explain to you at the time of the offence regarding the fine, or regarding going down to the court house to pay it?

jingles1

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

Yep, looking back I just have just "blagged it" and said I was visiting the US. Unfortunately we have bought a house here, and I guess I was worried they would check, and maybe find out we have a residency visa....but to be honest, like I said, I thought I had a year to do the test, and didn't realise I was doing anything wrong!

When he gave me the ticket it has a court appearance date in 2 months on the bottom. I went down to the court house and the guy said it won't be on their system for another 14 days. So I don't know if you can just get fined for this (and avoid a court appearance), or it has to go before a judge??

AdobePinon

Probably because the car registration would show the lie. Usually if there's a simple fine available, it's shown on the ticket. But it will depend on the local laws. It's quite possible that you'll come out better in court anyway.

Bob

You want this in front of a judge, it'll probably then be thrown out or you'll get a reduced fine.

Texas is one of the few states that says you have a year to get a local license, unless you moved to the state from another state, it's usually just a case of not being able to get insurance that makes people take the test sooner.

jingles1

Thanks for the replies....

Yep, this is where the confusion was - you have a year to take the Texas test if you a visitor, but as soon as you are "resident", and have your SS number you only have 30 days apparently...

When the citation appears on the website, does it tell you if you have to pay a fine?? At least I had insurance (the insurance co. knew I only had a UK license). So if you pay the fine is that it then??

I have never ever been in trouble with the law before.....the thought of going before a judge makes me feel sick. I am just a mum of 2 kids and feel very stressed about the whole thing. Do you think they will just ask to pay a fine - if they do, I don't want to fight it, I just want to pay it!

augigi

I'd expect it's a fine and you might be able to pay online (but you'll cop points on your license too). Looking at one county in TX, looks like it's $165 for that.

Definitely says "failing to obtain TX DL within 30 days of establishing domicile".

Have you organized to get TX license now? If you do have to appear, would be nice to be able to show that you remedied the situation when you became aware. Are you going to keep driving on the UK DL in the meantime..?

Rete

It should tell you on the ticket. It does in NYS if it is a speeding ticket that you can pay the fine which is $xxx plus $xxx for every mile over the speed limit.

There will be points on your license and if you get enough points they take away your license. Don't know what happens as you don't have a Texas license to put points.

I would go to court. It will be an experience and you will know first hand what it is like.

Patrick Hasler

They still have the death sentence in Texas ..................

Go to court and plead ignorance then tell the judge how very sorry you are.. GET A LICENCE .... The test is about 30 seconds long and involves turning the steering wheel and couple of times

Bob

Oh that's cool...up in Maine, it's fixed $260 ticket on the interstate and something like $150 on main roads, automatically lose your license if over 30 miles over the limit, or if your under 21, you lose it for any infraction, for 30-90 days depending on speed...in theory lol

ukintexas

Hi Jingles1
You do have a year to get your Texas State License if you have a valid UK license. It's a reciprocity agreement between certain countries and the US. It sounds as though you have been stopped by an officer who will have no understanding of immigration status, which is not uncommon. I'll check the information and see if there is anything I can advise you on.

ukintexas

Just found this: "Generally, a person 18 to 75 years of age with a valid out-of-country driver license in their possession may drive a private, non-commercial motor vehicle in the State of Texas for up to one year from date of entry into the United States, if their home country has reciprocity with the U.S. To check for reciprocity, contact License Issuance at
1 (512) 424-5089 or by e-mail at [email protected]. " The UK is included in the agreement.

Hope this helps.

AdobePinon

You sure residency doesn't overrule that one?

meauxna

hmmm, does the statute say 'domicile' and not 'residence'.. ??

jingles1, what's your story.. you're here on a work xfer, right? Where do you consider your 'principle residence' to be? Perhaps your domicile is still in the UK.

Nah.. you probably don't want to go down that road... instead of arguing in court, just make nicey nice with the judge and put on your poshest accent. You may be foreign, but you're not from south of the border. Wear something nice, too. Appearances count.

lisa67

There are many attorneys in TX who specialise in traffic offences (due to the traffic cops love of the speed gun!!) It might be worth finding one and paying for a consult to put your mind at rest and find the easiest way through this. My OH did this for his most recent speeding ticket and ended up paying the fine and because he then went on probabtion he didn't get any points on his license.(which would have affected his insurance)