Asked 6/25/2016 – Houston, TX

My son got a speeding ticket for 15 mph over speed limit in a very small East Texas town and given a ticket He did not appear in court which is his own fault but we never received any paper work in the mail. This is not an excuse just a statement. He went to renew his license recently and we received a letter for denial of license and a website for failure to appear. I added it all up and called court in town to pay over the phone. I called judges office and a young lady told me it had to be paid to a collection agency and I could not pay court. She gave me number and I decided to look on website and there was all this about it was a scam collection agency and do not pay it I had no idea DPS used collection agency for moving violations. I thought you paid it or a warrant was issued Is this correct that a collection agency can monitor and decide your driver’s license fate Why can I not pay court Is this legal and I don’t trust collection agency to report back to court after reading over and over its a scam Collection company Are all tickets able to be turned over to a collection agency thank you

Answer

The individual municipal court has an option to turn delinquent cases over to a collection agency if they so choose; it is not the DPS, nor is it the collection agency who suspends or puts a hold on a driver’s license. I have never heard of a court not collecting money, but be advised any amount you pay will include the collection fee charged by the agency, even if the money is paid directly to the court. I suggest investing in a phone call to an attorney in the county where the tickets are pending. You will probably make out better in the long run and possibly avoid convictions on your son’s driving record.