An outstanding violation is an unresolved citation or judgment that has been reported to the Failure to Appear (FTA) Program by a court. You will not be permitted to renew your driver's license until the court has been satisfied and the FTA Program driver's 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's license renewal hold.
Yes. If your driver's license is otherwise valid, you may continue to drive lawfully until your renewal date. For example, if your license has been denied renewal by a court but your driver's license still has four years left until its renewal date, you may continue to drive legally with your current driver's license until the date of expiration, giving you ample time to contact the court and resolve your case.
Yes, if you are unable to renew your driver's license because you have a FTA Program renewal hold on your license, you may be eligible to obtain an Occupational driver's license to allow you to drive for specified purposes (temporarily) while you conclude complying with the court's requirements. However, you must contact the court to determine whether you may obtain an ODL.
According to Transportation Code Sec. 706.006(d), a court may not require an indigent individual to pay the FTA 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.
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.
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 FTA Program before the hold may be lifted unless the court determines you are indigent..
No. Payments must be made to the reporting court after verifying the amount owed.
You must contact the reporting court to determine acceptable payment options.
No. You must contact and pay—or otherwise satisfy—each court separately.
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.
No. Once the reporting court has been satisfied, the court must notify OmniBase to remove your case from the FTA Program and have the renewal hold retracted.
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.
The FTA Program does not have information on warrants. It will be necessary to contact the court to determine if a warrant has been issued.
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)).
Citations include language notifying you that nonrenewal of your driver's license is a potential penalty for failure to appear or failure to pay. When the court adds your case to the FTA Program, OmniBase 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's 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's license renewal.
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's license number and date of birth correctly, please call 1-800-686-0570 and speak with a representative for assistance.
You may contact OmniBase of Texas by phone at 1-800-686-0570 for additional assistance.
Yes. County and municipal courts may use the FTA Program to encourage judicial compliance for traffic violations or non-traffic violations.
No. The FTA Program database only contains outstanding violations reported by a jurisdiction that chooses to participate in the FTA Program and has a contract with the Department of Public Safety accordingly.
No. If you require assistance with any other matters related to the Department of Public Safety, you may visit the DPS web site or you may contact DPS at (512) 424-2600.
The FTA is governed by and codified in Texas Transportation Code Chapter 706.
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.
Contact the reporting court with legal documentation (e.g., marriage certificate, court order) to update your name. They must update their records and notify OmniBase to correct the FTA Program database.
Yes. Address changes do not excuse failure to appear or pay. Contact the court directly to update your address and resolve the case. Provide proof of new address if needed.
The $10 reimbursement fee (Texas Transportation Code §706.006) is required by law and collected by the court upon case clearance. It funds program operations and is separate from fines.
Courts typically notify OmniBase within 1–3 business days after full compliance. The hold is lifted from DPS records within 24 hours of receiving court clearance. Check status at dps.texas.gov.
No. You must resolve the hold with the court first. Online renewal will be blocked until the court clears the violation through OmniBase.
Your license will remain non-renewable. Driving with an expired license may result in additional citations, fines, or vehicle impoundment. Warrants may also be issued.
For FTA Program Information in English or Spanish: Call the citizen hotline at 1-800-686-0570.
For other DPS matters: Call the Texas Department of Public Safety at (512) 424-2600.
For court-specific inquiries, contact the reporting court directly. Visit their website or call for payment options and violation details.
