Extensions

A 30-day extension may be granted for payment upon the defendant's request.  You may submit the Request for Extension in person, by mail, or by fax to the Court by your appearance date.   You will be found Guilty and the offense will be reported to the Department of Public Safety if applicable.  If the request is made after your appearance date on your citation you may have additional Failure to Appear / Violate Promise to Appear charges added.  Please contact the court to verify if these charges have been added.  You will be required to submit a separate Request for Extension for each charge you have.  Incomplete requests will be denied.  The court will mail you paperwork with your due date to the address provided on the request form.  If your payment is not made in the 30-day extension period a $25.00 Time Payment Fee will be assessed, regardless of if the due date falls on a weekend, and due per the Government Code.  (See below) 

Depending on the amount of your citation you may be eligible for more than 30 days to pay your citation.  Please see the chart below.  If you are eligible for more than 30 days you may submit the Request for More Than 30 Days in person, by mail, or by fax to the Court by your appearance date.  If you request more than 30 days to pay you will be assess a $25.00 Time Payment Fee on each charge.

Fine Amount	Length of Time Allowed
$0        -    $200	30 days to Pay in Full
$201    -     $400	60 days to Pay in Full*
$401    -   and up	90 days to Pay in Full*
	*$25 Time Payment Fee applies

Government Code - Section 51.921(a)(1) and (2)

"In addition to other fees authorized or required by law, the clerk of each district court, statutory court, county court, justice court, and municipal court shall collect a fee of $25.00 from a person who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor and pays any part of a fine, court costs, or restitution on or after the 31st day after the date on which a judgment is entered assessing the fine, court costs, or restitution." This fee will be added in advance if the Defendant chooses a pay out plan or on or after the 31st day if the Defendant fails to make full payment on their fine by the 30th day.

PLEASE NOTE: You are required to have the request by mail postmarked on or before your appearance date to be submitted timely.  If you fax the request to the court you are responsible for verifying the court received your fax. 

Once you have been granted an extension you may pay your fine by cash, money order, check or credit card (cardholder must be present with valid ID) in the office, by check or money order by mail or the 24-hour night deposit box (located inside the first set of doors on the left at City Hall), or by credit card online at www.OfficialPayments.com (a 5% convenience fee will apply). 

If you are not able to complete payment of your fine you will be required to appear in the court office to request a Show Cause Hearing Date.  A Show Cause Hearing is a court appearance with the Judge to "show cause" for why you have not paid your fine and court costs.  At this hearing the Judge will decide if any additional time to pay will be granted.  

Failure to set a Show Cause Hearing date by your due date will result in a warrant for your arrest being issued.  Once you have defaulted on payment and a warrant has been issued you no longer have the option to speak to the Judge at a Show Cause Hearing.