When must a defendant enter a plea to be eligible to take a driving safety course?

• A. On or before the answer date on the citation
• B. After being found Guilty at trial
• C. On appearance date
• D. Never; it's discretionary

Answer: (A)

Responding to a traffic citation by the deadline is what makes you eligible for a driving safety course. You must enter a plea on or before the answer date listed on the ticket. By meeting that deadline, you can request the driving safety course as part of your plea, which in many places reduces or avoids penalties and keeps points off your driving record. If you miss the answer date, the option is usually lost, and the case may proceed to trial or you’ll face standard penalties. Some jurisdictions also require course completion within a certain period after pleading, but the crucial timing is submitting the plea by the answer date.