Washington traffic tickets.
Washington has no points at all. Three tickets in twelve months still suspends you, which is a lower threshold than most point states.
How it works in Washington.
District courts and municipal courts, under the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction. Most moving violations are civil infractions, not crimes, proved on the balance of probabilities, with no jury and no appointed lawyer. DUI, driving while suspended, reckless driving and hit and run stay criminal.
There is no point system. Suspension is triggered by count: moving violation infractions on three or more occasions within one year, or four or more within two years, brings a sixty day suspension plus a year of probation.
3 or more occasions in one year
Sixty day suspension plus a year of probation
4 or more within two years
The same result
Since 1 January 2023
Failing to pay a ticket no longer suspends your licence. Only failing to respond or appear does
From 1 April 2026
The Department of Licensing must end an accumulation suspension early if the driver completes a safe driving course, usable once every five years
No points, and a threshold lower than the point states.
Washington is tighter, not looser, than the point states. Three tickets in a rolling twelve months is a lower bar than almost anywhere, and there is no traffic school that removes a ticket the way it does elsewhere.
Because it is civil, you can lose without a prosecutor ever appearing, on a balance of probabilities standard. Since 1 January 2023, failing to pay a ticket no longer suspends your licence. Only failing to respond or appear does.
Common violations and what they carry.
Zone over 40 mph, 1 to 5 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone over 40 mph, 6 to 10 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone over 40 mph, 11 to 15 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone over 40 mph, 16 to 20 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone over 40 mph, 26 to 30 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone of 40 mph or less, 6 to 10 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone of 40 mph or less, 11 to 15 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Zone of 40 mph or less, 21 to 25 over
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Following too closely, and failure to yield
Base penalty
Before assessments are added.
Those are base penalties. The amount you actually pay is roughly double once the seventy percent Public Safety and Education Assessment and the fixed fees are added. Washington assigns no points to any offence.
What actually helps here.
A deferred finding
Under RCW 46.63.070(5) the court defers the finding for up to a year on conditions.
You get one deferral in seven years for a moving violation and one in seven for a non moving violation. CDL holders are not eligible.
A safe driving course, from 1 April 2026
The Department of Licensing must end an accumulation suspension early if the driver completes a safe driving course.
It is usable once every five years.
Thirty days from the date of the notice
To pay, request a mitigation hearing, or request a contested hearing. This was fifteen days until 1 January 2023.
Yes
Under IRLJ 3.3 you may be represented by a lawyer, and where counsel files a notice of appearance with a waiver of your presence you may appear through counsel.
Read this first.
How it works
You send us the ticket. That is your entire job. Four steps and a flat fee in writing.
What we fight
Speeding, red light, cell phone, reckless driving, suspended licence and CDL tickets.
Send us the ticket
Free review, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether fighting it is worth your money.
Send us the Washington ticket.
Free review, no obligation, and a straight answer about whether fighting it is worth your money. Representation in Washington is provided by an attorney licensed in Washington.