A new Texas House Bill (soon to become law, I’m sure), will remove the option of taking a driver safety course for those ticketed for a speed of 95 mph or more.

House Bill 586 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to add the spouse or dependent child of a member of the U.S. military forces to the list of defendants eligible, at the discretion of the judge, to complete a driving safety course or motorcycle operator training and safety program in lieu of certain other court action on a traffic violation. This bill also makes a defendant charged with driving at a speed of 95 miles per hour or more ineligible to take a driving safety course in lieu of certain other court actioon.

It’s pretty stupid and irresponsible to be driving that fast in the first place; but, now, those that do will suffer stiffer penalties all around.

EDIT: Additional information added to post 9/16/2008

In response to Chuy’s comment below, I have researched and found additional information regarding the eligibility to take a driver safety course in the state of Texas.

Article 45.0511 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures (section p) lays down what traffic offenses deem one IN-eligible to take a driver safety course. Specifically, they are:

1. Passing a school bus while stopped, with signals flashing (Tx Trans. Code 545.066)
2. Leaving the scene of an accident (Tx Trans. Code 550.022)
3. Failure to give proper information at an accident scene (Tx Trans. Code 550.023)
4. A serious traffic violation, relating to commercial operation (Tx Trans. Code 522.003)
5. Any traffic offense committed in a construction zone when workers are present. (Tx Trans. Code 542.404, 729.004(b))

You see, in that section of the law, there is NO mention of speeding of 25 mph or more. You have to dig a little deeper. Near the beginning of the same code, 45.0511(b)(5) states you are eligible to take the course if:

[you are] charged with an offense to which this article applies, other than speeding at a speed of:
(a) 95 miles per hour or more; or
(b) 25 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit

So, basically, the 25 mph thing might as well be considered part of the IN-eligibility list.