King County Traffic Ticket Records

King County traffic ticket records document citations issued by county law enforcement and state troopers in this remote West Texas county, with Guthrie as the county seat. These public records are available through Texas court systems and state online tools. This page explains how to look up a ticket, what the record contains, and how to handle a citation in King County.

Traffic Cases in King County

King County is one of the least populated counties in Texas. It has one Justice of the Peace court that handles all county traffic citations. The county seat, Guthrie, has a very small population. There is no separate municipal court. All traffic tickets written in King County go to the single JP court.

Most citations in King County come from the county sheriff and Texas DPS troopers. Highway stops are the most common source. Your citation lists the court date and the court where your case is assigned. Call the county clerk at (806) 596-4412 for any questions about your case or how to respond to your ticket.

Under Art. 27.14(c) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, paying a ticket without appearing is a guilty plea. The court reports that conviction to DPS, and it goes on your driving record. If you'd rather avoid that, there are options worth considering before you pay.

Finding King County Traffic Records

Start with the Texas Office of Court Administration's public citation search at topics.txcourts.gov/CitationsPublic. This free tool covers many Texas JP courts and lets you look up cases by citation number, name, or driver license number. If the King County JP court is connected to this system, your case may appear there.

Very small, rural counties sometimes have limited digital access. If your case doesn't appear in TOPICs, contact the county clerk at (806) 596-4412. They can check the courthouse records and tell you the fine, status, and required next steps. Don't wait until your court date passes without acting.

The TOPICs statewide citation search is a free tool run by the Texas Office of Court Administration. It's a good first place to check for King County traffic ticket records online.

What a Traffic Ticket Record Contains

Each citation issued in King County has a standard format. The citation number identifies your case. The record lists the date, time, and location of the stop, plus the officer's name and badge number. Your name, date of birth, and driver license number appear on the record, as do your vehicle's plate, make, model, and VIN.

The violation section shows the statute violated and a plain description of the offense. Fine and court cost amounts are added when the case is processed. The record reflects the case status throughout the process: open, paid, dismissed, or deferred. Texas law makes these records public and available on request.

How to Handle a Ticket in King County

Paying the fine closes the case but enters a conviction on your driving record. For many drivers that's acceptable for a minor first violation. But there are two other paths that may lead to dismissal instead.

Deferred disposition under Art. 45.051 of the Code of Criminal Procedure puts the case on hold for 90 to 180 days. You pay a fee and meet the judge's conditions. If you stay ticket-free during that time, the case is dismissed. No conviction is reported to DPS.

The Driving Safety Course option under Art. 45.0511 lets certain drivers complete an approved course and get the ticket dismissed. You must request DSC before your court appearance date. CDL holders can't use it. You can't have used DSC in Texas in the last 12 months. Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit typically disqualifies you. If eligible, take a TDLR-approved course and submit proof to the court with a Type 3A certified driving record from Texas DPS, which costs $12 online or $10 by mail.

Texas Driving Records

The Texas DPS holds your driving history. Convictions from King County JP court are reported here. Order your record online: Type 2 (three years) is $6.50, Type 3 (full history) is $7.50. Certified copies (Type 2A and 3A) are $12 online each. To order by mail, use Form DR-1 to Texas DPS, P.O. Box 149008, Austin, TX 78714-9008. Mail orders take up to three weeks.

Unpaid Tickets and License Holds

Miss a court date or fail to pay a King County ticket and the consequences add up. Courts can issue a warrant. Unpaid tickets are reported to the Texas OMNI program under Transportation Code Chapter 706. DPS blocks your license renewal until you pay the fine plus a $10 OMNI fee per ticket.

Check holds and pay them at texasfailuretoappear.com using your Texas DL number and date of birth. Once payment is processed, DPS clears the hold. Old tickets from any Texas county can still carry active OMNI blocks.

The Texas Failure to Appear site lets you look up OMNI holds tied to your license and pay them online, including holds from King County tickets.

Nearby Counties

King County is in the rolling plains of West Texas. Find traffic ticket records for nearby counties here: