Traffic tickets are something that you should be concerned about! They can impact your ability to drive and can significantly infringe on your financial well-being by increasing the costs of your car insurance premiums.

If you get a speeding ticket in eastern Washington, admitting guilt and paying the fine is not always the best option. A traffic ticket attorney can help you make the right decision for your circumstances and avoid the worst consequences of a speeding ticket.

FINES FOR SPEEDING

Going over the speed limit in Washington is a traffic violation that can lead to getting pulled over by an Officer or Trooper in a traffic stop and being issued a ticket. The cost of that ticket depends on the speed limit and how fast you were allegedly going.

UNEXPECTED COSTS OF A SPEEDING TICKET

However, these are not the only costs that you will have to pay for a traffic ticket for speeding. In Washington, there are lots of hidden costs of a speeding ticket, as well.

The fine listed on the speeding ticket is not going to be the only one that you will be expected to pay. There may be insurance implications that can come from a speeding ticket.

CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS

If you get ticketed for speeding and elect to just pay the fine rather than contest the ticket, you basically plead guilty to the ticket and a record is made of the infraction. This record may quickly be noticed by your insurance company and you can likely expect to see an increase in your car insurance premiums. 

The increase in your car insurance is likely to be the single biggest price that you will have to pay after a speeding ticket. Many insurance companies increase car insurance rates by double digit percentages after a speeding ticket and keep them at that higher rate until the speeding ticket falls off your driving record. In Washington, a ticket stay on your record for three years after the citation. In many cases, this can amount to an extra hundreds or even thousands in increased premium costs over three years for people who have been ticketed for speeding.

LICENSE IMPLICATIONS OF A SPEEDING TICKET

In addition to the fines and hidden costs of a speeding ticket in eastern Washington, there can also be license implications, as well.

While Washington does not use driving points, like many other states, it does keep track of prior moving violations and can revoke your driver’s license if you accumulate too many prior infractions. Four moving violations in the span of a year – or five moving violations in the span of two years – will put your license on probation. Once on probation, two additional tickets will lead to a license suspension of 30 days.

DEFENDING AGAINST A SPEEDING TICKET

With so much at stake, defending against a speeding ticket is crucial for your future. Even when it seems like your case is “open and shut,” you actually have three options that you can pursue in your defense.

Talking to a speeding ticket lawyer about which choice is in your best interests can be an important first step.

OPTION 1: PLEAD COMMITTED AND PAY THE FINE

The first option is the one that most people take in eastern Washington: simply pay the fine and move on. While this is the simplest response to take to a speeding ticket, it is usually the most expensive in the long run. Here is what is likely to happen next.

• You admit to the offense by paying the fine listed on the speeding ticket.
• The court enters the speeding infraction on your driver’s record.
• The Washington Department of Transportation will add the ticket to your history, suspending your license or putting it on probation if the ticket puts you over the limit.
• Your insurance company may increase the cost of your premiums.

OPTION 2: PLEAD COMMITTED, BUT ASK FOR A MITIGATION HEARING

You can also admit to the speeding ticket, but request a Mitigation Hearing and ask the judge to lower the penalty. The judge can reduce the amount of the fine of your ticket. 

Of course, you will have pled committed (aka guilty) to the speeding ticket so all of the consequences that come with having the ticket on your driving record will still be there.

OPTION 3: FIGHT THE TICKET

Finally, you can challenge the traffic ticket in court. By forcing police to prove their case against you, you can invoke your rights and give a skilled traffic attorney the opportunity to defend your interests.

Contact one today to determine what is the best course of action for you to take if you have been ticketed for speeding in eastern Washington.