The law requires any person issued a citation to appear in court. It is noted on the citation that you must appear within 10 business days from the date of the offense. If you were arrested and released on bond, the appearance date will be set on your bond or you will be notified by mail of your appearance date at the address you provided during booking.  If you are a juvenile/minor, you will be notified by mail of your appearance date at the address you provided during the traffic stop.  

It is a defendant's responsibility to keep the Court informed of any change of address.  Failure to inform the Court of a change of address could result in a warrant being issued for Failure to Appear.

Generally, a person 17 years of age or older may enter their first court appearance by mail. A plea by mail is not permitted by a person 16 years of age or younger, a person charged with assault family violence, or a 17 year old person charged for a tobacco or alcohol offense. In order for a plea by mail to be accepted, the plea must be postmarked by the scheduled appearance date on the citation or on the summons you receive via mail.  A plea by mail must also include a copy of your driver's license or other legal form of identification.

If you wish to make your appearance in person before your scheduled appearance date, you may do so by appearing at 300 Main St., Room 302, Big Spring, Texas. If you appear and plea not guilty, you will be given a notice of your pretrial setting at the time of your appearance.

The Court maintains an online payment system that defendant's may conveniently use to enter a plea and pay fines and court costs. Making a plea via the online payment system satisfies your obligation to make an initial Court appearance.

 

If you appear before your scheduled appearance date, a Court Clerk will provide you with a plea form.  The Court Clerk will present the plea to the Judge for consideration. If you appear at the scheduled date and time on a summons, the Judge will take your plea in open court. If you waive a jury trial and plead guilty or no contest, you may request that the judge consider any mitigating or extenuating circumstances before setting your fine. If you plea guilty or no contest, you must execute a waiver of jury trial.

If you plead not guilty, the Court will schedule your case for a pretrial hearing. You will receive the date and time of your pretrial hearing upon your plea of not guilty.