Recently, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) announced changes related to their Driver Education & Safety website and course certificates. These changes are significant to municipal courts wishing to inform defendants where they can find approved driving safety courses (DSC) as well as to municipal courts needing to verify DSC course completion for the purposes of Art. 45.051(b-1)(2) or 45.0511 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Searching for Approved DSC Providers
Effective already, to search for approved DSC providers in your area:
- Go to https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/driver.htm
- Click “License Search” on the right side of the page
- Click “Driving Safety Providers” on the dropdown menu
- Click “license search” under Search the License Database
- Select “Search by City for a Specified License Type”
- Select “Driving Safety Provider” from the dropdown menu
- Input a city name
As of June 16, 2023, “not all TDLR licensees are available through [the] license search.” It is unknown when all licensees will be available.
New DSC Completion Certificates & Validation Process
Effective June 5, 2023, course providers are required to use a new certificate of completion template that (1) does not list the school or instructor and (2) includes the new TDLR logo. Course providers must issue their own Uniform Certificates of Course Completion that comply with the new rules. To validate a certificate:
- Go to https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/driver/driver.htm
- Click “Driving Safety” on the right side of the page
- Click “Validate a Course Certificate” from the dropdown menu
If you have questions for TDLR about any of the recent changes related to court-ordered courses, TDLR asks that you contact the Education & Examination Division.
Full Court Press 