The Municipal Court is located in the City Hall Building at 104 N. Main, Rising Star, Texas 76471.
The Court receives phone call-in and payments Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM CST. Call-in and phone payments can be made by calling 254-643-4261.
You can also contact the Court by email at judge@risingstartexas.net to request information or to ask for a continuance on your case. Please reference your case number or citation number in the email.
Deferred Disposition Requirements The court offers the option to “defer” or postpone the disposition of your case and place you on probation for a specified period of time. During the deferral period, you must comply with the terms and conditions of your deferral. Terms vary. Please be aware the type of offense you have been charged with, the facts of your particular case and/or your criminal history may be considered to determine if you are eligible for a deferral. Offense categories that may be eligible for a deferral option include: moving violations, bicycle and non-motorized vehicle offenses, no insurance violations, no driver’s license/invalid driver’s license violations, disabled parking, and water safety violations.
If you successfully comply with the terms of your deferral in the time-frame ordered by the Court, your case will be dismissed.
If any requirements are not met and you cannot provide a satisfactory reason why, at a hearing before a judge, you may be found guilty. If your offense is report able to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Court will provide notice of conviction to DPS. Non-Eligibility:
You are not eligible for a deferred disposition on a moving violation if you: Are charged with: Leaving the scene of a collision. Passing a School Bus. Received your citation while driving in a Construction Zone when workers were present. Have a commercial driver license even if the violation occurred while you were driving a private vehicle.
If you request a deferral via email or mail and are not eligible, you will be notified, in writing, to select another option to handle your case. *Note: It is important to keep the Court notified of your current mailing address so you do not miss important correspondence.
Appearance at Court Required: You must appear at court to request a deferred disposition if: 1. You are a juvenile (under the age of 17). As a juvenile, you must appear in person at the date and time assigned by the court prior to requesting a deferred disposition. Keep your address updated with the Court because notices will be mailed, or 2. You are charged with a code violation (violation other than traffic, parking, “no insurance”, no driver license or driving with license invalid, seat belt). You may contact the court to determine if you are required to attend an appearance docket. Deferral
Terms and Procedure: The terms of the various deferred dispositions are listed on the forms. If you agree to the terms, submit the following by mail or in person: 1. Request then complete a copy of the appropriate deferred disposition form For Moving Violations For Bicycle or other Non-Motorized Vehicle Violations For Failure to maintain Financial Responsibility Violations For No Driver’s License/Invalid Violations For Disabled Parking Violations For Water Safety Act Violations 2. Check or money order made payable to the City of Rising Star - request amount from court (cannot be paid online at this time but the Court does accept Credit Cards)*; 3. Copy of your insurance, driver license, or other documents as listed on the different deferred disposition forms.
Your case will be reviewed and, if you are not eligible for a deferred disposition, you will receive notice in the mail asking you to choose a different option. If you are eligible, the court will consider your request and, if approved, you will have 90 days in which to complete your deferred disposition. *Note: If you cannot pay the required fee immediately, please contact the court.
Failing to Comply with the Terms If you fail to comply with any of the requirements of the Deferred Disposition, your case will be set for a revocation hearing. The hearing is your opportunity to speak with a judge regarding why you failed to comply with terms of your deferred disposition. If you fail to appear at your hearing, a conviction will be entered, the conviction will be placed on your record, and, if there is still a balance on the case, a warrant for your arrest will be issued.
Payment Arrangements If you cannot afford to pay your deferred disposition fee at the time you make your request, other arrangement may be possible. Please contact the court to see if you are eligible.
You are eligible to request this Driver’s Safety or Defensive Driving course for Texas Ticket Dismissal if you: • Have not requested and taken a course for a traffic offense with the last 12 months. • Are not currently participating in any course for another traffic violation. If you were cited for any of the following, you are not eligible to take a course for ticket dismissal. • Speeding 25 mph or more above the posted speed limit • No insurance or failure to maintain financial responsibility • Leaving the scene of a collision • Passing a School Bus, Speeding in a School Zone, or • If you were cited while driving in a Construction Zone. • If you have a commercial driver’s license you are not eligible to take defensive driving
If you were cited while operating a motorcycle, you may be able to receive a ticket dismissal by taking a Motorcycle Operators Training Course (MOTC). The eligibility for requesting a Motorcycle Operators Training Course is the same as the Defensive Driving / Driver Safety Course with the exception that you must have been cited while operating a motorcycle.
Please note that you can only take a Texas course for Texas ticket dismissal once per year (once every 12 months). Additionally, you MUST request permission to take this driver safety course for purposes of ticket dismissal by the appearance date shown on your ticket. To take defensive driving and get your violation dismissed, you must complete these steps with the court.
1. Request permission to take defensive driving for dismissal of your ticket by the appearance date shown on your ticket. In most cases you were given a form to request permission when your received your citation,. 2. Pay $144.00 for Court Costs and Fines Complete our driver safety course before the deadline established by the Court when or if permission is granted. 3. Obtain a copy of your driving record from Texas Department of Public Safety within the deadline given by the court. 4. Show proof of driving record and certificate of completion to the Court by the court-imposed deadline.
Benefits of Texas Ticket Dismissal: 1. Keep points off your driving record. Points that accumulate on your driving record from violations signal to insurance companies and employers alike that you may be a liability to their business. 2. Keep your insurance rates down. Dismiss your ticket and points stay off your record, keeping your point total down means better insurance rates. 3. Safeguard employment. If you drive as part of your job, it’s in your best interest to get your Texas ticket dismissed asap. Keep the points off your record and insurance rates low. 4. General driving knowledge. While not the 1st reason drivers take a course (that’s for ticket dismissal, obviously) most are appreciative of the increased driver safety awareness and knowledge of traffic laws course completion brings.
