What is a Traffic Infraction?

We are Traffic Ticket Lawyers since 2005 with experience representing clients for Speeding Tickets, other Traffic Infractions, and Criminal Traffic Law Violations.

Traffic Infractions Can Raise Your Insurance Rates, And Put Your Driver’s License At Risk.

Possible insurance costs can run into the thousands of dollars, to many traffic tickets can cause a loss of license, and someone who drives for a living (Commercial Driver’s License, driving company vehicles, or gig workers) can lose their jobs.  While a driver certainly has the right to represent themselves in a traffic court hearing, are they going to know the nature of the court involved (some courts are far better for contesting a speeding ticket, others are dealing courts), what constitutes an error or defense, and if it might work in a particular court, or how to best negotiate with the Prosecuting Attorney?   A Traffic Ticket Lawyer’s fee is normally only a few hundred dollars with a very strong chance of keeping the violation from your record.  We are Traffic Ticket Lawyers with 16 years experience representing clients for Traffic Infractions and Criminal Traffic Law Violations throughout the Puget Sound region. For more on how we might be able to help you, please call us a 206-816-9110 or fill out the form at the bottom of the page for a callback to receive your free case evaluation.

 

A Traffic Infraction is a violation of one of the rules of the road under the laws of the State or a Municipality of Washington. Infractions are not criminal violations, and have different rules than do criminal law. Penalties for traffic infraction violations do not include imprisonment, but do include monetary penalties and mu;lti[ple comtted violations can result in a license suspension.  Does an infraction go on your record?  Yes, the violation is reported to the Department of Licensing (DOL) for placement on your driving record.  It will then be reported to your insurance company for 3 years on a standard license, although once reported they can still consider it after the three years are expired..  There are other ramifications for holders of Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) and those under 18 with an Intermediate Drivers License.

The following is a short description of what traffic infractions in Washington State are and how they might effect a person’s driving record and finances. It is not intended as a guide to contesting tickets. Contesting traffic violation charges is complicated. An experienced traffic attorney knows the factual and procedural elements needed to support the charge. We know know how to best present evidence and arguments in a way that is most likely to be persuasive. And we do so usually without your needing to take time from your busy life to go to court. Very few of the tickets that we take on are found committed as written: most are dismissed or reduced so they do not impact your driving record. For more, read on, then contact us about your ticket here. For more on what we do, click here.

Q: What are Traffic Infractions?

There are are two categories of Traffic Infractions.

Moving Infractions are primarily the safety violations, such as Speeding, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign or Red Light; Failure to Signal, Lane Usage violations, Following to Closely, Failure to Obey Traffic Control Devices, Speed Too Fast For Conditions, among others.  They now include Cell Phone, Texting and other handling an electronic device tickets.  These violations are reportable by DOL to an Insurance Company records request, and to some employers, and are used as a factor in determining a drivers insurance rates.

Non-Moving Infractions are primarily equipment violations, such as a non-working head or tail-lights, Cracked Windshields, loud muffler, window tint being to dark, or No Seatbelt violations. These violations are generally also reportable by DOL to Insurance Companies or Employers, but also generally have far less to no impact on insurance rates

No Proof of Insurance, No License On Person, or No Registration or Expired Tabs are not specifically safety violations, but are reportable. They may also have very high fines if found committed.

Penalties for most Washington Traffic Infractions are monetary, and the amount is written on your ticket.  However, too many violations can result in a suspension or revocation of your license to drive.  Moving and some non-moving violations are reported to your insurance company for three years, and may result in an increase in your insurance rates.  This cost can be far greater than that of the base fine: a $20 per month increase, over the three years a committed violation will appear on your record reportable to insurance, will total out to over $700.  However, we cannot predict what increase, if any, may occur under your specific circumstances.

For Commercial Drivers License and Intermediate License holders all the above infractions may adversely effect your license or employment.

If you have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) both types of Traffic Infractions will be reported to both Insurance Company and Employer records requests.  And unlike a standard driver’s license three-year reporting period, committed violations on a CDL may be reported for up to ten years.

If you are under the age of 18 and have an Intermediate Driver’s License, Non-moving Traffic Infractions are also counted by the Department of Licensing, which will revoke your Intermediate License if two Traffic Infractions are found committed before you reach the age of 18.

Here s a link to a FAQ from the Washington DOL about the rules governing Intermediate Licenses: https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/teens.html

Q: Are Traffic Infraction violations Criminal?

No.  In Washington Traffic Infractions are Civil Matters, which means that the only penalties for a committed finding are monetary.  However, enough multiple committed Traffic violations can result in the DOL suspending or even revoking your license to drive.  Also if you do not take care of any associated fines or fees growing out of the infraction, DOL will eventually suspend your Driver’s License in Washington.  If you are subsequently found to be driving on a suspended or revoked license, even unknowingly, you may be charged criminally, for Driving With a Suspended License 3rd Degree.

Q: Is it worth it to contest my traffic ticket?

Ultimately this choice is yours. But here are some things to think about in making your decision. First, just because a ticket was issued does not mean that the court will automatically find that you committed the infraction. The officer may have a good-faith belief that a violation occurred, but the factual basis for that belief will still have to be presented to the judge. If the judge feels that it is more likely than not (more than 50%) that the facts show a violation occurred, then the judge will uphold the ticket. But if the judge feels that the likelihood is less than 50% that the facts show that a violation actually occurred, then the infraction will be found as Not Committed. Contested tickets are found Not Committed on a regular basis. Uncontested tickets are always found Committed.

Even if the facts support a committed finding there are still other possible outcomes that may reduce what financial impact may occur to a driver. It really comes down to money.  A violation that goes to your insurance record may have a significant financial impact. A mere $20 increase in insurance rates over the three years it would be reportable totals out over $700.  $50 increase, $1800.  This figure is intended as an example and not an average impact. Your circumstance may result in a lesser or greater costs. So even if the violation may be found committed based on the facts, and the original fine may be due, keeping it from your record can have these other long-term benefits. Another issue to consider is that nothing happens in isolation: what will be the impact if a second violation reaches your record, for example? What if there are multiple drivers in your household?  We regularly get calls from clients who just decided to pay their first ticket, but now have a second.  An insurance company may give a pass on a first violation, but seldom two.  The frustrating part is when the first ticket was in a court that we have a high success rate in, while the second ticket, not so much.  Or they deferred the first violation; so a second violation causes the first to be found committed and it is in a tough court.

Here s a link to a FAQ from the Washington Department Of Licensing about what goes onto your Drivers Abstract:  https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/drivingrecfaq.html

 

If you would like to know more about your Washington Traffic Ticket and what we might be able to do for you, please call us at 206-916-9110 us.  A Consultation is free.

You may also contact us for a free consultation callback regarding how we may be able to help using the following form:

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