Did you get a traffic ticket in Seattle? Looking for answers about your Seattle traffic ticket? Getting a traffic ticket is a real pain! Apart from the cost of the ticket, if you go to court you may have to miss work, school, other obligations, or fun activities. Many people don’t know how a moving violation could affect their license and hike up their insurance rates. Most people don’t know that even a non-moving violation could affect their license in some circumstances.
Seattle Municipal Court oversees traffic infractions in the Seattle city limits. Seattle Municipal Court is located at 600 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104. Their website contains useful information regarding tickets, probation, and access to community resources.
Many people are too busy to fight a ticket. Some people do not understand how much a ticket will really cost them if they don’t contest it.
Contested Hearing - Traffic Ticket in Seattle
If you want to argue that you did not commit a traffic violation you can request a contested hearing. A judge will hear your case. A judge will hear the prosecutor’s case against you. The judge will then decide whether you committed the traffic infraction or not.
If you want to contest a traffic ticket you can request a contested hearing. A judge will hear your case. A judge will hear the prosecutor’s case against you. The judge will then decide whether you committed the traffic infraction or not.
It is possible to beat a traffic ticket in WA. There are a number of reason why a traffic ticket can get dismissed. The reasons vary on a case by case basis. Getting a “no insurance” ticket dismissed may require a different process than getting an “expired registration” ticket dismissed. While getting a ticket dismissed is great, avoiding getting a speeding ticket in the first place will ensure your insurance rates do not skyrocket.
If you get a speeding ticket, an HOV ticket, a work zone or construction zone ticket, no insurance ticket, speed too fast for conditions, cell phone ticket, school bus camera ticket, fail to obey traffic signal or traffic control device, or other infraction, you should contact an attorney to try to get that ticket off your record.
A traffic ticket is not a criminal offense.
You can get on a payment plan for a traffic ticket. In most cases you can pay that traffic ticket online.
Mitigation Hearing - Traffic Ticket in Seattle
Another option is to request a mitigation hearing. Although the judge may reduce the fine of the ticket – this will have no bearing on how your insurance views the ticket. Your insurance company will still see a moving violation and may significantly raise your insurance rates.
Deferred Traffic Ticket - Traffic Ticket in Seattle
Finally, you may be able to defer your Seattle traffic ticket. This is a sort of traffic ticket probation. If you do not commit another infraction the ticket will be dismissed. If you do commit another infraction the deferral is revoked, the ticket is found committed, and it goes on your record. A deferral costs about the same amount as the ticket (depending on the ticket). Often, people save the deferral for an expensive ticket, but conservative drivers might use one for a smaller ticket. The rules and costs of deferral are different in different courts. Talk to your attorney to see whether the deferral is a good option for you.
Can I Get on a Payment Plan for Traffic Tickets?
Yes. You can get on a payment plan for traffic tickets in Washington. You may need to pay an additional fee to get on a time to pay agreement.
Can I Get on a Payment Plan for Multiple Traffic Tickets?
Maybe. In Washington, you may be able to consolidate your payments for outstanding traffic tickets. The court should take your ability to pay into consideration when making a decision about fine payments. Your current and future ability to pay fines includes existing payments of legal financial obligations like traffic tickets. Some counties and cities will let you consolidate your payments if you make that request at the court where you owe money.
How Do I Get My Tickets Out of Collections?
In Washington, you may be able to get your tickets out of collections by writing to the court. You may need a hearing in front of a judge to explain why the ticket fell into collections – or a judge may grant your request to pull the tickets from collections. An attorney can help you with this request which could save you a lot of money in collections fees and other fines.