Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Washington
How to pay, contest or reduce a traffic ticket in Washington, and what happens if you ignore it.
Short answer: A person must respond to a notice of traffic infraction within 30 days. To pay, complete the notice and send it with the penalty by mail or in person to the court on the notice (or indicate an inability to pay in full). RCW 46.63.070
| Paying or fighting a ticket | A person must respond to a notice of traffic infraction within 30 days. To pay, complete the notice and send it with the penalty by mail or in person to the court on the notice (or indicate an inability to pay in full). To contest, request a hearing on the notice; the court sets a hearing at least seven days out. A person may also request a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances. Failing to respond or appear results in the penalty being assessed and DOL being notified, which can lead to a license suspension. Source: RCW 46.63.070 |
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| Paying or looking up a ticket online | Traffic tickets are paid to the court where the ticket was filed; the Administrative Office of the Courts states that all court fines are managed by the court where the fine originated and cannot give a list of your fines. Many courts offer online status checks and payment on their own websites (reachable from the state's district, municipal and superior court pages and court directory), and Find My Court Date and Search Case Records help locate a case. Case search: https://dw.courts.wa.gov/ |
| Traffic school | There are no points to remove, but a court may defer findings on a contested or mitigation hearing for up to one year with conditions; if the driver meets the conditions and has no new infraction, the court may dismiss the ticket. Only one deferral is allowed in seven years for moving violations, and commercial drivers are not eligible. Separately, completing a DOL-approved safe driving course can end a too-many-tickets suspension early, once every five years. Source: RCW 46.63.070(5); RCW 46.20.2892 |
| License suspension | DOL may suspend a license for offenses requiring mandatory suspension, causing a crash through reckless or unlawful driving, frequent moving violations, failing to respond to a ticket or appear at a hearing, license fraud, or child support noncompliance. Too-many-tickets suspensions last 60 days plus probation (no reissue fee is charged for that suspension). DUI and test refusal bring administrative suspensions or revocations. |
Where to get help in Washington
More Washington traffic tickets & dui
- Reinstating a Driver's License in Washington
- DUI Laws in Washington
- How Driver Points Work in Washington
- All Washington traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in Washington?
A person must respond to a notice of traffic infraction within 30 days. To pay, complete the notice and send it with the penalty by mail or in person to the court on the notice (or indicate an inability to pay in full). To contest, request a hearing on the notice; the court sets a hearing at least seven days out. A person may also request a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances. Failing to respond or appear results in the penalty being assessed and DOL being notified, which can lead to a license suspension.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in Washington?
Traffic tickets are paid to the court where the ticket was filed; the Administrative Office of the Courts states that all court fines are managed by the court where the fine originated and cannot give a list of your fines. Many courts offer online status checks and payment on their own websites (reachable from the state's district, municipal and superior court pages and court directory), and Find My Court Date and Search Case Records help locate a case.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in Washington?
There are no points to remove, but a court may defer findings on a contested or mitigation hearing for up to one year with conditions; if the driver meets the conditions and has no new infraction, the court may dismiss the ticket. Only one deferral is allowed in seven years for moving violations, and commercial drivers are not eligible. Separately, completing a DOL-approved safe driving course can end a too-many-tickets suspension early, once every five years.
What gets your license suspended in Washington?
DOL may suspend a license for offenses requiring mandatory suspension, causing a crash through reckless or unlawful driving, frequent moving violations, failing to respond to a ticket or appear at a hearing, license fraud, or child support noncompliance. Too-many-tickets suspensions last 60 days plus probation (no reissue fee is charged for that suspension). DUI and test refusal bring administrative suspensions or revocations.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.