Seattle Traffic Lawyer helping Washington State Drivers

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Boating Offenses

If you live or have been to the greater Seattle area, you know that our beautiful state is home to many boaters. There are plenty of places to spend your day on a boat. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of ways to find yourself facing a boating infraction. Seattle traffic lawyer may help.

Washington State has several boating regulations that could ruin your day on the water. As any of the Seattle traffic lawyers will recommend, do not simply pay your Seattle traffic ticket. Schedule an appointment with Seattle traffic lawyer to go over your case. You may very well have a valid defense to your boating infraction.

Continue reading about Washington State Boating Offenses.

CALL OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER TODAY AT (206) 409-7608 TO DISCUSS YOUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC TICKET

Seattle Traffic Ticket: CDL Drivers

If you are a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, you how know that your CDL is your prized possession. It took you a lot of hard work and determination to obtain your CDL. More importantly, it is a way for you to earn your living. Right now and in the future.

As a CDL holder, you probably already know that a simple Seattle traffic ticket, could have a detrimental impact on your license. This is true even if you were not driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation.

Whatever your citations, you need a Seattle traffic lawyer to help you fight your Seattle traffic ticket. Even though we are known as “Seattle traffic lawyers,” we represent clients throughout King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.

There are many traffic violations that are unique only to CDL holders. In Washington State, one of the most common such violations is the logbook violation.

Continue reading about Washington State logbook violations.

CALL OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER TODAY AT (206) 409-7608 TO DISCUSS YOUR CDL ISSUES

A person can easily violate “Disobeying Road Sign” statute. The language of this statute is very broad. It covers everything from HOV signs to making an improper turn where a sign prohibits a driver from doing so.

Nonetheless, disobeying a road sign will cost you. First, there is the fine that is on the face of the ticket. But the real cost is the increased cost of insurance. A moving violation will stay on a driver’s record for three years. That means your insurance premium will remain high for that long.

So keep your insurance premiums low and call our traffic defense attorney to fight your your Disobeying Road Sign ticket!

If you received a ticket for disobeying a signalman, officer, firefighter, or school patrol, be sure to contact us as soon as possible. Click here to learn more about these type of tickets and what it will cost you!

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Driving While License Suspended

Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) is not only a Seattle traffic ticket. It is also a criminal charge.

This is a “double whammy” for the law enforcement. Unfortunately, it is also a double the detriment to the driver. As any Seattle traffic lawyer will tell you, the officer often will issue a Seattle traffic ticket and also arrest you for the violation.

In Washington State, a suspended license is typically temporary. The driver with the suspended driver’s license is able to reinstate his or her driver’s license after fulfilling the required conditions.

Such conditions may include paying an outstanding fine or installing an ignition interlock device. Sometimes, the driver will have to simply wait out the term of the suspension. In addition, the driver will have to pay the reinstatement fee to the Department of Licensing (DOL). That is why it is wise to speak to a Seattle traffic lawyer.

A license revocation, on the other hand, deprives the driver of his or her driving privileges altogether. As if the driver never had his or her driver’s license. In addition, once the revocation period is over, if ever, the driver will have to repeat the process of obtaining a driver’s license. This includes passing the written and driving tests, and paying the fees.

Every Seattle traffic lawyer knows, driving with a revoked or suspended license is not only an infraction, it is also a criminal charge. As such, it is punishable by a potential jail sentence and a heavy fine. The term of the potential jail tern depends on the degree of DWLS. If the degree of DWLS is high enough, a jail term may even be mandatory.

As you can see, DWLS is a serious crime and you should not take it lightly. One of the better things you can do to help yourself is to speak with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. We are not just Seattle traffic lawyers. We specialize in criminal defense too.

 CONTACT OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER AT (206) 409-7608 IF YOU ARE FACING A DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED CHARGE

Driving with Wheels off Roadway

It is against the law for a vehicle to drive with any part of it off the roadway. The part that is off the roadway can be paved or gravel. Most drivers think that because the part that is off the roadway is paved they are not driving off the roadway. This is far from the truth. Officers often will site drivers with Driving with Wheels off Roadway tickets even if the driver is slightly on the shoulder. Most of the time we see these tickets when a driver decides to take their exit too late and some part of the vehicle ends up driving across the gore point.

Feel free to read more about Driving with Wheels off Roadway tickets.

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles

In Washington State, Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles is a lot broader than one would think.

Typical “Yield to Emergency Vehicles” circumstances that most drivers think of go something like this. You are driving in your car, going about your business. There are sirens. Then you look in your rear-view mirror. You look to your left. You look to your right. And eventually you see an ambulance approaching. The common knowledge among Washington State drivers is that the law requires you to slow down and yield to the approaching ambulance.

But what if the facts are different? What if you are exiting a freeway and you see a Washington State Patrol officer parked on the shoulder with its emergency lights activated? Should you yield to the patrol officer?

Or what if it is not a patrol officer but a tow truck with its flashing lights activated? Are you still required to yield? What if it is not safe for you to slow down and merge over? What about if you are not a driver but a pedestrian?

Almost every Seattle traffic lawyer will tell you that law enforcement will gladly hand you a Seattle traffic ticket for failing to yield to emergency vehicles. Often, the facts are more complicated than one would think.

Continue reading about Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle infractions.

IF YOU WERE CITED FOR FAILING TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLE CALL OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Failure to Yield Right of Way

In Washington State, Failure to Yield Right of Way is not governed by a single statute. Instead, the general law is broken down into several infractions. Each infraction is governed by a separate statute.

For example, if the vehicle is approaching an intersection, the facts are governed by RCW 46.61.180. If the circumstances surrounding “failure to yield” infraction involve vehicles approaching non-functioning signal lights, the case is governed by RCW 46.61.183. Or if the facts of your case include entering a highway from a private roadway or driveway, the case will be governed by RCW 46.61.205.

A Seattle traffic ticket for a failure to yield obviously comes with a fine. More importantly, it stays on your driving record for three years. This means that for the next three years it will affect your insurance premiums.

Seattle traffic lawyers know that traffic infractions are a big business. They are a big business for the government. And they are a big business for the insurance carriers. Do not let a silly Seattle traffic ticket affect you in the long run. Fight it!

Read more about Failure to Yield Right of Way.

TO TALK TO OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER ABOUT YOUR FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY INFRACTION, GIVE US A CALL AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Following too Closely

You probably do not need a Seattle speeding ticket lawyer to tell you what this traffic violation means in layman’s terms. Obviously, if you received a Seattle traffic ticket for following too close, then the officer thought you were following too close. Fortunately, officers are often wrong.

But then again, maybe it is not as simple. What is “too close?” Does Washington State define how many feet or inches is considered “too close?”

Following too Closely is a tricky citation. Often the citation is based on the officer’s subjective interpretation of what constitutes “too close.” Seattle traffic lawyer most often see infractions for following too close in rear-end collisions.

To read more about Washington State’s Following too Closely law, click on the link.

 IF YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER TELL YOU ABOUT THE FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY, CALL US AT (206) 409-7608

Improper Lane Change or Travel

If you were ticketed for improper lane change or improper lane travel, this would be a good time to retain an attorney. Insurance companies see this as a serious traffic violation and will increase your insurance rate to compensate for the increased risk to them.

If you were stopped for improper lane change or improper lane travel, be sure to call us as soon as possible.

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Lane Violations

Washington State laws govern several violations that would fall within the “Lane Violations” category. Each lane violation infraction is governed by a separate statute. In addition, fines for the violations differ depending on the type of lane violation.

The most common lane violation is the HOV lane violation. People always ask Seattle traffic lawyers “what does ‘HOV’ stand for?” It stands for High Occupancy Vehicles. The HOV lane violation is governed by RCW 46.61.165 and will be discussed in more detail below.

The second most common lane violation is the “Improper Lane Use.”

You do not have to be a Seattle traffic lawyer to see that this violation is very broad. Just about any use of a lane other than driving without swerving will constitute improper lane use. Our Seattle speeding ticket lawyer sees a Seattle traffic ticket for lane violation where the driver changed lanes when it was not safe to do so.

Click on the link to read more about Lane Violations.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC TICKET WITH A SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER, GIVE US A CALL AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Negligent Driving

Negligent driving is a serious offense. Both of them. In Washington State, there is Negligent Driving in the First Degree and Negligent Driving in the Second Degree. Let us call them Neg. 1 and Neg. 2 because that is what they are known as among Seattle traffic lawyers.

The one huge difference between the two is that Neg. 1 is a criminal law violation. Neg. 2 is a civil traffic infraction. There are many other differences between the Neg. 1 and Neg. 2. Click on the link to read more about Negligent Driving.

 IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NEGLIGENT DRIVING, DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US. OUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER CAN BE REACHED AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Driving without Insurance

The legal title of Driving without Insurance or Driving with no Insurance is “Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Responsibility.” Unless you are a Seattle traffic lawyer, calling it “No Insurance Ticket” will be just fine.

Seattle traffic lawyers usually see Driving without Insurance or Other Financial Liability accompanied by another Seattle traffic ticket. This is because an officer cannot pull you over for driving without liability insurance. Well, technically he could. But there is probably no way for the officer to know whether you have liability insurance or not. Unless, of course, you have been pulled over so many times that the officer knows you too well. In such case, you should probably seek help beyond what Seattle traffic lawyer can offer.

But officers usually learn of no liability insurance after pulling over the driver for another traffic violation. So drivers are often upset when they learn that they get a $550 ticket for no insurance. A $550 ticket on top of the Seattle traffic ticket for the violation they were initially stopped for.

Read more about Driving without Proof of Insurance.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS AFTER RECEIVING A NO-INSURANCE VIOLATION, CALL US AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Red Lights and Stop Signs

The laws related to stop signs and red lights are probably the most well known traffic laws. Not only here in Washington State, but also in most civilized countries. We obviously know these laws, but choosing to obey them is another question. Behind speeding tickets, stop sign and red light violations are probably the infraction that Seattle speeding ticket lawyers come across most often. Yet, there are several good defenses that allow Seattle speeding ticket lawyers successfully argue them in court.

To read more about Red Light and Stop Sign violations.

CALL SEATTLE SPEEDING TICKET LAWYER IF YOU WERE CITED FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN VIOLATION. OUR NUMBER IS (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Speeding over the Limit

Speeding over the Limit is the most common traffic infractions that Seattle speeding ticket lawyers see. Which is ironic. With so many cars on the road today, it is tough to drive the speed limit. Let alone, above the speed limit. It seems like no matter which street you turn on, it is backed up with traffic. Nonetheless, law enforcement officers issues speeding tickets in Washington all the time.

Officers issue speeding tickets in Washington based on several different methods of measuring drivers’ speeds. The first method is by the use of a speed measure device. There are two types of speed measuring devices. One is a LIDAR, the other is RADAR. More on the difference between the two at a later time.

The second method of measuring drivers’ speeds is pacing. Pacing is when the officer maintains a constant distance between his vehicle and the driver’s vehicle. The reasoning is that the driver’s speed is the same as the speed indicated on the officer’s speedometer. As any Seattle speeding ticket lawyer will tell you, there are many problems with pacing.

Read more about Speeding over the Limit here.

TO SPEAK TO SEATTLE SPEEDING TICKET LAWYER ABOUT YOUR SEATTLE TRAFFIC TICKET TRY US AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Speed too Fast for Conditions

Another way to get a speeding ticket in Washington is driving too fast for conditions. Speed too Fast for Conditions is a tricky violation. This is because the driver does not have to drive above the speed limit to be in violation. One can easily find him or herself with the infraction even if they were driving below the speed limit. Unfortunately, there is no objective way to measure a driver’s safe speed under circumstances. So officers base these infractions on their subjective interpretation of what is too fast for conditions. This is a problem because different people have different definitions of what is considered safe under given circumstances. If you received a Seattle traffic ticket for speeding too fast for conditions, be sure to speak to our Seattle speeding ticket lawyer.

To about Driving too Fast for Conditions in more detail.

IF YOU WERE CITED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS, CALL OUR SEATTLE SPEEDING TICKET LAWYER AT (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Sign Violations

Seattle traffic lawyers come across various sign violations. The most common, and the most obvious, one is the stop sign violations. In Washington State, a driver is required to make a complete stop behind a clearly marked stop line. This means that “rolling stops” or “California stops,” as they are known among Seattle speeding ticket lawyers, are illegal.

Other sign violations include failing to yield to traffic when there is a yield sign. Another example is failing to obey turn signs. For example, making a left turn when a sign says otherwise. Or changing a lane where a sign prohibits doing so. As Seattle traffic lawyers, we see a pattern among traffic sign violations in Seattle. Many drivers do not notice traffic signs. Which is totally understandable. Sometimes we tend to forget to notice objects that we see on regular and systematic basis. Plus, our minds are often occupied with other things while we are driving. Whatever the reason, failing to obey traffic signs is still a violation.

Read more about Sign Violations.

TALK TO SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER: (206) 409-7608

Seattle Traffic Ticket: Equipment Violations

In Washington State, law enforcement officers frequently cite drivers for equipment violations. Obviously cars come with many equipment parts. And car parts become defective as part of normal wear and tear. Oftentimes drivers are not aware of these defective parts. For example, a driver may not be aware that his or her tail light is out. Only recently did car manufacturers start installing sensors to alert drivers of defective car parts. A driver of an older car has no way of knowing that his tail light is not functioning properly. Unfortunately, a driver does not have to be aware of the defective equipment in order to be found in violation of the statute.

Equipment violations often lead to other law violations. For example, a stop for a defective tail light may result in the officer learning that the driver does not have proper insurance. So on top of a Seattle traffic ticket for equipment violation, the driver will be fined an additional $550 for not having insurance. Or even worse, the driver might be driving without a valid license or after drinking. In such case, a stop for a mere missing tail light will result in the driver’s arrest and criminal charges.

Read more about Equipment Violations.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS, CALL SEATTLE TRAFFIC LAWYER AT (206) 409-7608

Wrong Way on a One-way Street or Rotary Traffic Island

This may come as a surprise, but most people don’t drive on the wrong side of the street intentionally. Most drivers come to us surprised that they received this violation. If you ever found yourself in downtown Seattle you know that it is easy to find yourself potentially driving wrong way on a one-way street. However, we often see clients with these tickets outside Seattle too. Rotary traffic islands can be confusing for some drivers too.

This traffic violation is similar to “Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road” violation. The concept is definitely the same. The difference is one requires a one-way street and the other does not.

To read more about Wrong Way on a One-way Street or Rotary Traffic Island, click here.