Did you get a carpool lane ticket? Did you get an HOV ticket in Washington? Did you get a traffic ticket cited under RCW 46.61.165 or RCW 46.61.050?
If you’ve been ticketed with an HOV or carpool violation (or other restricted lane violation) and you’re wondering what your options are – you’ve come to the right place.
It is always good to have the advice of an attorney when you’ve been charged with an HOV lane violation or other restricted lane violation. An attorney can tell you if you have any defenses that can lead to getting your case dismissed or reduced.
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.
HOV Ticket is a Moving Violation
An HOV ticket IS a moving violation in Washington as of 2019. Because it is a moving violation, it will be reported to the Department of Licensing by local courts. Your insurance company can ONLY see the violations that are reported to the Department of Licensing. Because of that, moving violations – reported to the Department of licensing – can significantly increase your insurance rates. This rate increase can vary anywhere from 10 to 15% annually. That means that over the period of several years a single rate increase can cost you several hundred dollars. Depending on what the violation is your insurance company may raise your rates by more than 10 to 15%.
There are a number of problems that can lead to the dismissal of any traffic charge. Additionally, there are some flaws in traffic reports that can lead to the dismissal of the HOV or other restricted lane charges specifically. For example, it is possible that the officer does not use the correct statutory citation when citing you for this violation. In order to confirm whether this is the case, you may need to consult an attorney.
Whether you have a non-moving infraction or a moving infraction, the best course of action is to seek the advice of an attorney. Most attorneys will speak to you and give you some preliminary advice about your options.
How Do I Beat an HOV Ticket?
- Challenge the procedure
- Challenge the allegations in the officer’s report
- Subpoena the officer
- Consult an attorney