×

Compliance Dismissals

Compliance Dismissals

The municipal judge is responsible for conducting a fair, impartial, and public trial.  The case against you is brought by the State of Texas through the prosecutor, not the court.  Therefore, the judge may NOT dismiss a case without the prosecutor having the right to try the case.  There is an exception to this rule regarding the compliance dismissals listed below. 

NOTICE:   License Plate (Expired) violations qualify for dismissal ONLY if the late registration penalty fee was paid to the Tax Accessor upon renewal of your expired registration by your original appearance date. You must disclose you received a citation while the registration was expired to be charged this fee.  Receipts without the itemized late registration penalty fee listed will not be processed as a dismissal.  The fine will be due.

           ***Trailers and Semi-Trailers are EXCLUDED as Transportation Code 502.407(b) stipulates only motor vehicles are eligible for dismissal.  Any partial payments mailed into the court on these violations will be accepted with a no contest plea by the judge.  The remainder of the fine will be due within 30 days. 

Proof of compliance may be filed post marked by the due date as indicated below with a photograph or copy of receipt: 

  • In Person – 415 Main Street, Sealy, TX  77474
  • By Mail - P O Box 517, Sealy, TX  77474.  If using a different carrier other than USPS, use the physical mailing address 415 Main Street, Sealy, TX  77474.
  • By E-Mail – villagomez@ci.sealy.tx.us

Payment of dismissal fine in the amount stipulated below will be paid upon verification of compliance proof filed by a clerk. This may be done:

  • In person – Accept cash, *credit/debit, money order, or cashier check.  No personal checks.
  • By Mail – Money order, cashier check, no personal checks accepted, payable to:  Sealy Municipal Court mailed to P O Box 517, Sealy, TX  77474.  If using a different carrier other than USPS, use the physical mailing address 415 Main Street, Sealy, TX  77474.
  • By Phone:  Accept credit/debit by calling 979-885-6733.  *A 3.5% service fee is charged on all credit/debit charges.
Effective August 2021 - 86th Legislature

Offense Statute Length of Time
to Comply		 Required
Conditions		 Fine Amount
Expired License Plate (Registration) Section 502.407(b), Transportation Code 20 working days after the date of the offense or before the defendant’s first court appearance, whichever is later

Defendant must remedy the defect; and
Show proof of payment of late registration penalty fee to county assessor-collector

** You must disclose you received a citation while registration expired

TRAILERS EXCLUDED - Only motor vehicles are eligible for dismissal per statute

 $20
Operate vehicle without valid registration insignia properly displayed Section 502.473(d), Transportation Code Before defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must:
Remedy the defect; or Show that vehicle was issued a registration insignia that was attached to the vehicle establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed		 $10
Attaching or displaying on a vehicle a registration insignia that is assigned for a period other than in effect Section 502.475(c), Transportation Code Before defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must remedy the defect $10
Operate vehicle without two valid license plates Section 504.943(d), Transportation Code Before the defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must remedy the defect $10
Attaching or displaying on a vehicle a license plate that is assigned for a period other than in effect, or has a blurring, reflective, coating, covering, or protective matter or attached illuminated device, sticker, decal, or emblem that obscures, impairs, or interferes with the plate’s readability Section 504.945(d), Transportation Code Before the defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must:
Remedy the defect; and Show that vehicle was issued a plate that was attached to the vehicle establishing that the vehicle was registered for the period during which the offense was committed

TRAILERS EXCLUDED - Only motor vehicles are eligible for dismissal per statute		 $10
Expired driver’s license Section 521.026(a), Transportation Code 20 working days after the date of the offense or before the defendant’s first court appearance, whichever is later Defendant must remedy the defect $20
Fail to report change of address or name on driver’s license Section 521.054(d), Transportation Code 20 working days after the date of the offense Defendant must remedy the defect $20
Violate driver’s license restriction or endorsement Section 521.221(d), Transportation Code Before the defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must show that: Driver’s license restriction or endorsement was imposed because of a physical condition that was surgically or otherwise medically corrected before the date of the offense, or in error and that is established by the defendant; and
DPS removes the restriction or endorsement before the defendant’s first court appearance		 $10
Expired disabled parking placard Section 681.013, Transportation Code 20 working days after the date of the offense or before the defendant’s first court appearance, whichever is later Defendant must remedy the defect $20
Operate vehicle with defective required equipment (or in unsafe condition) Section 547.004(c), Transportation Code Before the defendant’s first court appearance Defendant must remedy the defect
Does not apply if the offense involves a commercial motor vehicle		 $10

Below is a list of some but not all defective equipment violations that may qualify for a $10 dismissal fine as stated in the chart above:
  • Affix unauthorized sun screening device to motor vehicle
  • Defective Brakes or No brakes
  • Defective Exhaust Emission System
  • Defective Headlamp on car/motorcycle/motor-driven cycle
  • Defective Parking Lamp                                                     
  • Defective Stop Lamp                                                          
  • Defective Tail Lamp
  • Defective or No Windshield Wiper                                                
  • Head Lamp improperly placed on motorcycle                    
  • Improper flashing lights                                                      
  • Improper Head Lamp on motor-driven cycle                      
  • Improper use of back-up lamps                                                      
  • Improperly directed lamp (over 300 candlepower) 
  • Mirror Violation (None or improperly located)
  • Muffler Violation (None, defective, loud, cut-out, by-pass)          
  • No beam indicator
  • No electric turn signal lamps
  • No exhaust emission system
  • No head lamp on motorcycle/motor-driven cycle
  • No head lamp (when no equipped)
  • No license plate lamp on car/motorcycle/motor-driven cycle
  • No light on animal-drawn vehicle
  • No multi-beam road lighting equipment on car/motorcycle
  • No parking brakes or defective parking brakes
  • No parking lamp
  • No reflector on rear car/motorcycle
  • No turn signal lamps when required
  • No Tail Lamps on car or motorcycle
  • Red Lights on front
  • Reflectors improperly mounted rear/side
  • Tail lamp improperly located car/motorcycle
  • Television receiver, Video equipment improperly located (visible to driver)
  • Unauthorized use of flashing red/white/blue light
  • Wrong color clearance lamps, side marker lamps, identification lamps, side reflectors
  • Wrong color stop light, license plate light, back-up lamp, signal device.
JUVENILES
All juveniles are required to appear in open court for all proceedings in their case(s). The parent of any juvenile charged in municipal court is required to be present in court with his or her child.