Misdemeanor

Adult Defendants Only: Telephone and on-line payment are available only to criminal defendants age 17 and over, for criminal offenses committed after age 17.

Payment constitutes a plea of Nolo Contendere ("No Contest") [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 27.14 (c): "In a misdemeanor case for which the maximum possible punishment is by fine only, payment of a fine or an amount accepted by the court constitutes a finding of guilty in open court as though a plea of nolo contendere had been entered by the defendant and constitutes a waiver of a jury trial in writing."].

Alternatives To Payment of Fines and Costs

Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 27.14(b)

*For Alternatives to Payment of Fines and Costs please contact court at 817-238-4425

A defendant who is convicted of a criminal offense punishable by fine only is entitled to alternative methods of satisfying the judgment against them if they are unable to pay the fine or costs, in whole or in part.

Those alternative methods include:

1. A payment plan, allowing the defendant to make payments toward the fine and costs in designated intervals.  Note that if any amount is paid more than 30 days after the judgment assessing the fine or costs then a $25 time payment fee must be assessed.
2. Disposition of the amount assessed by performing community service.  There are many options that meet the requirements of the law for community service, see Art. 45.049 of the Code of Criminal Procedure for full details.  A defendant is entitled to a minimum of $100 credit for every 8 hours of community service performed.
3. If performing community service imposes an undue hardship, a defendant who is indigent or who lacks sufficient resources to pay is entitled to a waiver of the fine and costs, in whole or in part.