A Class C Misdemeanor in Texas is punishable by a fine of up to $500. Class C charges are fine only and are not subject to jail time. Jail time can be used to sit out fines for credit.

Typically these cases are handled by a Traffic Ticket Lawyer. Not every attorney will handle traffic tickets so it is important to ask first.

A Class C Misdemeanor can be:

Speeding
Theft of less than $100
Disorderly Conduct
Public Intoxication
Drug Paraphernalia
Open Container
Assault By Contact-See statute below:

(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens another with imminent bodily injury, including the person’s spouse; or

(3) intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative.

There are too many other Class C offenses to list…

For a blog explanation click on Deferred Disposition.

It is important to get no worse than Deferred Disposition (Art. 45.051. CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS RELATED TO FINE-ONLY MISDEMEANOR) or defensive driving in order to keep a conviction off of your record. A conviction can never be expunged and will appear on criminal background checks. See the language below:

Art. 45.0218. CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS RELATED TO FINE-ONLY MISDEMEANOR.

(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), following the fifth anniversary of the date of a final conviction of, or of a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine only, all records and files and information stored by electronic means or otherwise, from which a record or file could be generated, that are held or stored by or for a municipal or justice court and relate to the person who was convicted of, or who received a dismissal after deferral of disposition for, the offense are confidential and may not be disclosed to the public.

(b) Records, files, and information subject to Subsection (a) may be open to inspection only:

(1) by judges or court staff;

(2) by a criminal justice agency for a criminal justice purpose, as those terms are defined by Section 411.082, Government Code;

(3) by the Department of Public Safety;

(4) by the attorney representing the state;

(5) by the defendant or the defendant’s counsel;

(6) if the offense is a traffic offense, an insurance company or surety company authorized to write motor vehicle liability insurance in this state; or

(7) for the purpose of complying with a requirement under federal law or if federal law requires the disclosure as a condition of receiving federal highway funds.(c) This article does not apply to records, files, and information described by Subsection (a) that relate to an offense that is sexual in nature, as determined by the holder of the records, files, or information.

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