Pay Traffic Ticket in Washington

Know Your Options

What it Means to Pay Your Washington Traffic Ticket

Paying a traffic ticket is an admission of guilt.

This means:

• You are waiving your right to challenge the ticket in court.
• Depending on driving record, the Department of Licensing (DOL) may suspend your Washington driver's license.
• The violation may cause an increase in your car insurance rates.

Pleading Guilty as a Washington CDL Driver

As a commercial driver, you must

• Notify your employer within 30 days of a traffic violation conviction, regardless of vehicle you were operating.
• Notify the DOL within 30 days of any out-of-state traffic convictions.
• Notify your employer within two days if your CDL is suspended, revoked, or cancelled.

Pleading Not Guilty

You also have the option to challenge the traffic ticket in court. A solid defense could sway the court to reduce charges or even dismiss the ticket. Our Fight Traffic Ticket page tells it all.

Pay Your WA Traffic Ticket

Depending on the court, you may have some or all of the following payment options:

• Online
• Phone
• Mail
• In person

Payment options will be explained on your citation. If you have any questions, contact the presiding court―Municipal or District.

Be sure to act fast. The court must have your payment/plea before the court date listed on your citation (usually 15 days). If you do not comply, the DOL will send you a Notice of Suspension, giving you 45 days to answer. Ignore this and the DOL will suspend your driver's license.

Ticket Deferral

There is no ticket dismissal option in Washington. You can, however, if eligible, pursue a deferral with the presiding court. This means the court will not report your traffic citation to the DOL.

To complete the deferral, you must:

• Pay an administrative fee equal to the ticket's penalty amount.
• Avoid any traffic infractions for the next year.
• Attend a traffic safety school within six months.

Fail to meet any one of the requirements and the court will rescind the deferral.

You may take advantage of this option once every seven years.

NOTE: Most courts require deferral requests several days before the ticket's posted appearance date. Check with your court.

Check Your Driving Record

The DOL will suspend your license if you're convicted of six moving violations within a 12-month period.

Always check your driving record for accuracy after getting ticketed―and, of course, check your driving status.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

Traffic tickets are usually followed by increased car insurance rates. You can always counter by shopping for a new provider.

Consider comparing rates online; it's a great way for finding a coverage plan that meets your needs and fits your budget.