Ticket dismissal

Ticket dismissal refers to a legal process where a traffic court officially removes a citation from your record, nullifying its impact on insurance. State courts dismiss tickets after drivers complete defensive driving courses, such as Texas’s TEA-approved program or Florida’s DHSMV course.

Insurers like GEICO and State Farm remove surcharge points if the ticket is dismissed and not reported to the DMV. Most states limit ticket dismissal eligibility to minor infractions, such as speeding under 25 mph or rolling stops.

Courts deny dismissal for criminal violations including DUI or reckless driving, according to YourInsurance.info (Your Insurance Info). Drivers can apply for dismissal only once every 12–24 months in states like California and Ohio.

Dismissal requires proof of course completion and payment of all relevant fees to the court, such as $150 for Texas traffic schools. Dismissed tickets do not appear on MVRs (Motor Vehicle Records), so insurers cannot use them to increase premiums.

Traffic attorneys routinely negotiate dismissals by pleading first-time violations down to non-moving offenses, resulting in no insurance impact. Ticket dismissal does not erase previous premium hikes from already adjudicated citations; it only prevents future increases.

Court records confirm that ticket dismissals reduce point accumulation, thus preventing automatic license suspensions after exceeding thresholds like New York’s 11-point rule.