Arlington Municipal Court: traffic ticket guide

If you got a traffic ticket in Arlington, your case is in the City of Arlington Municipal Court. You have 30 days from the date on the citation to respond. Here is what the court offers and what happens if you miss the deadline.

Court: City of Arlington Municipal Court
Address: 101 S. Mesquite St., Arlington, TX 76010, per the court's pages. Some city pages list City Tower, 101 W. Abram St., so check your citation or call before you go.
Mail: P.O. Box 90403, Mail Stop 63-0100, Arlington, TX 76004-3403
Phone: (817) 459-6777 (phone staff Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed city holidays
Pay or request online: arlingtontx.municipalonlinepayments.com
Look up a ticket: municipalrecordsearch.com/arlingtontx (citation number or driver's license number, with date of birth)

The 30-day deadline

The court says you must appear within 30 days after the citation was issued, in person or in writing. A phone call does not count. It also asks you to wait at least 5 business days after the ticket before contacting the court, so the citation is in its system.

Your options for an Arlington traffic ticket

Pay the fine

You can pay online, by phone or by mail. Paying is a plea of no contest, and the court reports it to DPS as a conviction on your driving record.

Deferred disposition

Deferred disposition is a probation period: if you stay out of trouble for 90 days, the ticket is dismissed instead of becoming a conviction. In Arlington it is generally available once every 12 months. You request it by your 30-day appearance date with a no contest plea and a copy of your license or ID, and it starts only once the costs and fee are paid.

Driving safety course (defensive driving)

Request it by the 30-day appearance date, then file a certificate from a TDLR-approved course, your DPS driving record and an affidavit within 90 days. The court lists the administrative fee and court costs at $144, plus $25 for a school zone offense, and says no extensions are approved. Miss the deadline and the case goes to a show-cause hearing and conviction.

Compliance dismissals

Some tickets can be dismissed once you fix the problem, generally within 20 working days of the citation. If you had insurance on the day of the ticket, you can email proof to the court at no charge.

Plead not guilty

A not guilty plea sets your case on the pre-trial docket. Only you or a licensed attorney can enter your plea.

More time, payment plans and community service

After a plea you can get an initial 30-day extension. For a payment plan, more time, community service or an indigency application, the court takes requests in writing, by email or through the online portal.

If you miss your Arlington court date

The court says a warrant for your arrest will be issued if you do not appear as required, and a separate Failure to Appear charge may be filed. Arlington runs what it calls Safe Harbor Court: you can come in at any time to resolve outstanding cases without being arrested on Arlington warrants. Unpaid cases go to the city's collections firm.

How an attorney handles an Arlington ticket

An attorney files a letter of representation with the court, which accepts attorney letters and motions by fax. At pre-trial, the court says judges generally excuse your presence when your attorney enters the plea. The attorney can ask for deferred disposition or a driving safety course for you, or set the case for trial, before the 30-day deadline runs out.

Nearby court guides

Fort Worth · Bedford · Mansfield · All courts · What a speeding ticket costs

Questions, answered

How long do I have to respond to an Arlington ticket?

The court says you must appear, in person or in writing, within 30 days after the citation was issued. A phone call does not count as an appearance.

Can I take defensive driving for an Arlington ticket?

Yes, if you are eligible. You must request it by your 30-day appearance date, then file proof within 90 days. The court lists the administrative fee and court costs at $144, plus $25 for school zone offenses, and says no extensions are approved.

Does paying my Arlington ticket online count as a conviction?

Yes. The court says paying online or by phone is a plea of no contest and is reported to DPS as a conviction.

Do I have to go to court if I hire a lawyer?

At pre-trial, the court says judges generally excuse the defendant when the attorney enters a guilty or no contest plea. For a trial docket, the defendant must be present.

Sources

Checked 2026-11-10. Court rules and fees change; the court has the final word.