CONTESTED Hearing by Mail
Instead of appearing in court at the date and time scheduled on your hearing notice, you also have the option of a contested hearing by mail. If you decide to proceed with a hearing by mail, you will not be required to appear in court. Instead you must complete the second page of this form. If you have any witnesses, their written statement must be attached to this form. The court will review your statements, the police officer's sworn statement, and render a decision. If the court finds that the infraction has been committed, it will impose a monetary penalty. The penalty will be based on the facts of the case and your driving record. If the infraction is found committed, you have NO right to appeal the court's decision. You also agree to pay the court ordered penalty within the specified time ordered by the judge. You will be notified by mail of the judge's decision. If you have not received a response within four weeks of mailing your hearing by mail form, it is your responsibility to contact the court at the number listed above. The court must receive all statements before your scheduled hearing. Statements not received before your scheduled hearing will not be considered. If the court does not receive your statement before the scheduled hearing date and you also fail to appear for the hearing, the infraction will automatically be found committed, a $52 penalty may be added and the violation will be reported to the Department of Licensing. Unpaid fines may result in referral to a collection agency and suspension of your privilege to drive.

Insurance Violation 
If you received a citation for No Proof of Insurance and had valid insurance at the time of the violation or have currently obtained valid insurance, please attach a copy of your insurance card to this form. Insurance policies and application forms are not accepted as proper proof of insurance. If you received another violation on your citation in addition to the insurance violation, be sure to address that violation on the back of this form. If you had valid insurance at the time of the violation there will be a $25.00 dministrative fee due prior to the dismissal of the charge.

The penalty for the following violations may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.

RCW 46.61.527(3) Roadway Construction Zones: A person found to have committed any infraction relating to speed restrictions in a roadway construction zone shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.

RCW 46.61.440 Maximum speed limit when passing school or playground crosswalks: A person found to have committed any infraction relating to speed restrictions within a school or playground speed zone shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.

Deferred Finding 
46.63.070(5)(a) Except as provided in (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection, in hearings conducted pursuant to subsections (3) and (4) of this section, the court may defer findings, or in a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances may defer entry of its order, for up to one year and impose conditions upon the defendant the court deems appropriate. Upon deferring findings, the court may assess costs as the court deems appropriate for administrative processing. If at the end of the deferral period the defendant has met all conditions and has not been determined to have committed another traffic infraction, the court may dismiss the infraction.

(b) A person may not receive more than one deferral within a seven-year period for traffic infractions for moving violations and more than one deferral within a seven-year period for traffic infractions for nonmoving violations.

(c) A person who is the holder of a commercial driver's license or who was operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of the violation may not receive a deferral under this section.

(d) A person who commits negligent driving in the second degree with a vulnerable user victim may not receive a deferral for this infraction under this section.

If you are granted a deferred finding, you must pay the administration fee of $200, comply with all court ordered conditions indicated on the deferred finding order and have no further law violations for the deferral period. Compliance with all conditions will result in the dismissal of the ticket and it will not appear on your driving record. You agree and  understand that violating any of the court ordered conditions will result in the infraction being found committed and may be reported to the Department of Licensing. You also agree and understand that you will be required to pay the original amount of the infraction in addition to the administrative fee already imposed by the Court. Unpaid fines may result in the referral to a collection agency and suspension of your privilege to drive.

 

IF YOU FAIL TO TIMELY FILE A HEARING BY MAIL FORM:

1. EACH INFRACTION WILL BE FOUND COMMITTED

2. A $52 PENALTY MAY BE ADDED

3. THE VIOLATION MAY BE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND MAY RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION OF YOUR PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE

4. UNPAID FINES MAY RESULT IN THE REFERRAL TO A COLLECTION AGENCY

To proceed by mail, complete the following and return to the court prior to your scheduled hearing date/time.

I certify (or declare) under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing statements are true and correct.

PO Box 678 Kirkland WA 98083-0678
(425) 587-3160