How to Reduce the Penalty and Points for Multiple Violations

[Mandar222]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Texas.

Hi,

I got a ticket today morning with three violations..

1. Changing Lanes not in Safety (Distance between Streets)
2. Impending the Speed Limit (Distance between Streets)
3. Failure to display valid Texas Driver's License.

I am from India and I have just arrived to US for the first time, less than 20 days in US now. I have a valid Indian Driving License.

Need an advise. I changed lane wrongly as I could not see the road marking due to sunlight. I was definitely not speeding. I can produce my driving license, send a scanned copy or visit court.

I don't know the fine amount as it is not updated on website yet. Please advise what are my options to reduce fine and points.

Thanks,
MJ

[jk]

I have a valid Indian Driving License.

I can produce my driving license, send a scanned copy or visit court.

here is the law concerning your Indian license, in Texas. Understand the law in any other state may be very different. As such, if travelling to another state, you need to check on the validity of your license in that state:

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/...=1&ch=15&rl=91

Did you not have your license on you?

to the impending the speed limit: the only thing I can find suggests that would be for driving too slowly. Do you have an actual code or statute number for that on the ticket so it can be looked up?

Changing Lanes not in Safety

based on your explanation you have no defense. The fact you could not see the lines is exactly why you would not change lanes. Again, do you have a code or statute number to go along with this? The specifics of the statute may allow for a better description of the intent of the law.

[Mandar222]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I am having a valid Indian DL however I was not carrying it at that time. There are no code or stature number mentioned on the ticket. It just says that ..

#1 Changing Lanes not in Safety (Distance between Streets)
#2 Impending the Speed Limit (Distance between Streets)
#3 (nothing written here)
#4 Failure to display valid Texas Driver's License.

Thanks,
MJ

[STATcom]

Fortunately, since you're a foreign national, you may actually get off. To fight this ticket, you'd actually follow the same procedure as any citizen. Set up a court date and go before a traffic court judge. Explain your situation clearly and honestly, be remorseful and let the know your genuine confusion. Traffic judges are usually more lenient on foreign nationals because they know traffic laws in other countries differ.

[Mandar222]

Thanks for the advise.

I called up the helpline and I was told that the total fine amount is $ 568 out of which some may get dropped after showing my Indian DL.

The helpline could not answer that if I would get points for this violation when I apply for Texas DL (currently I do not have one, I am planning to apply .)

Anyone here knows how this works? Do you get points on you new Texas DL if you are a foreigner and were convicted before getting a Texas DL?

Thanks,
MJ