Texas Department of Public Safety

Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay Program (FTAP) FAQ

What is the purpose of the FTAP?

The FTAP was established in 1995 because individuals were failing to appear in court for traffic citations at alarming rates. The enforcement of traffic laws is essential to the public’s health and safety.

The FTAP is designed to incentivize individuals that have failed to appear in court or satisfy a judgment to clear their cases or be prohibited from renewing their driver license in the future. Driver licenses are not suspended under the FTAP—this is simply a hold on a future driver license renewal to encourage court compliance.

I have an outstanding violation(s). What does that mean and what do I need to do?

An outstanding violation is an unresolved citation or judgment that has been reported to the Failure to Appear/Failure to Pay (FTAP) Program by a court. You will not be permitted to renew your driver license until the court has been satisfied and the FTAP Program driver license renewal hold has been lifted by the court. If this citation has been resolved or has been reported in error, please contact the court from which the citation was issued. Only the court that issued the citation has the authority to clear the citation and retract the driver license renewal hold.

NEW: A court has added me to the FTAP Program but I still have time remaining before I must renew my driver license. Can I still drive lawfully with my current driver license, if I haven’t yet reached my driver license renewal (expiration) date and I have a renewal hold?

Yes. If your driver license is otherwise valid, you may continue to drive lawfully with your valid driver license until your driver license renewal date even though you have a FTAP Program renewal hold.

For example, if you have been added to the FTAP Program and your driver license still has four years until its renewal date, you may continue to drive legally with your current driver license for those four years, which gives you ample time to contact the court and resolve your case.

NEW: What if I have a renewal hold, my driver license has expired, and I need to drive to work to pay off the amount owed? Can I get an Occupational Driver License (“ODL”)?

If you are unable to renew your driver license because you have a FTAP Program renewal hold on your license, you might be eligible to obtain an Occupational Driver License to allow you to drive for specified purposes temporarily while you try to come into compliance with the court. You must contact the court to determine whether you may obtain an ODL.

My driver license has expired. Can I get a Texas identification card?

You may be eligible to obtain a Texas identification card. The Department of Public Safety issues Texas identification cards and you may use the following link to learn more about that process: https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/how-apply-texas-identification-card .

What if I am indigent?

According to Transportation Code Sec. 706.006(d), a court may not require an indigent individual to pay the FTAP Program’s $10 reimbursement fee. If you are unable to pay the amounts owed to the court, the court will evaluate your ability to pay and consider alternatives to monetary payment.

NEW: What if I cannot pay the full amount that I owe now? Can I use a payment plan or perform community service?

Courts have broad discretion to authorize a payment- or community-service plan and may prescribe the terms accordingly. Courts may determine your ability to pay and even waive amounts owed in some circumstances; however, you must contact the court to initiate satisfaction of the amounts owed.

NEW: Do I have to pay the amounts owed in full before a court will lift the FTAP Program hold on my driver license renewal?

Courts have discretion to require full, partial, or even no payment before lifting a renewal hold. You must contact the court to secure an arrangement that is satisfactory to the court, which might include a payment plan or community service. You must still pay the mandatory $10 reimbursement fee for the FTAP Program before the hold may be lifted—unless you are indigent or the reimbursement fee is otherwise waived.

Can I send the payment for the violations to the Department of Public Safety or OmniBase Services?

No. Payments must be made to the reporting court after verifying the amount owed.

Can I pay my fine with a credit card or personal check?

You must contact the reporting court to determine acceptable payment options.

Can I make one payment to cover violations reported by multiple courts?

No. You must contact and pay—or otherwise satisfy—each court separately.

Can I contact and/or pay the court online?

Some courts offer online payment options. You must either contact the court directly or you may visit the court’s website for information regarding online payment options. Back to top

Can I present documentation to the Department of Public Safety proving a violation has been paid to have my license renewed?

No. Once the reporting court has been satisfied, the court must notify OmniBase Services to remove your case from the FTAP Program and have the renewal hold retracted.

NEW: I have been incarcerated and unable to pay my delinquent amounts owed. Can I get credit for time served applied to my amounts owed to the court?

Courts may credit amounts owed for time served while incarcerated. You must contact the court to determine how credit for time served may be applied to your case.

Where do I obtain information about outstanding warrants?

The FTAP Program does not have information on warrants. It will be necessary to contact the court to determine if a warrant has been issued.

NEW: A warrant has been issued for my arrest but I want to resolve my case with the court. Will I be arrested if I show up in court to try to resolve my case?

The court will recall (terminate) an arrest warrant for a failure to appear if you voluntarily appear at the court and make a good faith effort to resolve the arrest warrant before the warrant is executed. (Code Crim. Proc., Art. 45A.104(g)).

I did not receive notification that my driver license was denied renewal.

Citations include language notifying you that nonrenewal of your driver license is a potential penalty for failure to appear or failure to pay. When the court adds your case to the FTA Program, OmniBase Services mails notification letters to you at the address provided at the time of the violation. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety mails an additional notification letter to you prior to the driver license renewal date to the address on file with the Department; however, these are courtesy notifications and do not affect the legality of denial of driver license renewal.

I received a letter but am not in the database.

If the database is not reflecting any offenses on your file, the offense has either been resolved or the data you entered does not match exactly with the information in the database. If you entered your driver license number and date of birth correctly, please call 1-800-686-0570 and speak with a representative for assistance.

What do I do if I am having trouble contacting the court - no one answers or all I get is a busy signal?

You may contact OmniBase Services of Texas by phone at 1-800-686-0570 for additional assistance.

Can my driver license be denied renewal for non-traffic violations?

Yes. Justice and municipal courts may use the FTAP Program to encourage court compliance for traffic violations and non-traffic violations.

Does the FTAP Program database have a record of all outstanding violations that I may have in Texas?

No. The FTAP Program database only contains outstanding violations reported by a jurisdiction that chooses to participate in the FTAP Program and has a contract with the Department of Public Safety accordingly.

Where do I obtain information about outstanding warrants?

No. If you require assistance with any other matters related to the Department of Public Safety, you may visit the DPS web site at www.dps.texas.gov or you may contact DPS at (512) 424-2600.

What is the statutory authority for the FTAP Program?

The FTAP is governed by and codified in Texas Transportation Code Chapter 706.

NEW: I have a FTAP Program renewal hold on my driver license. Does this prohibit my ability to vote?

No. Texas law allows many alternative forms of identification that satisfy proof of identification for voting purposes. Please refer to the Texas Secretary of State’s website for more information at this link: VoteTexas.gov » FAQs