How to Pay Traffic Tickets in Washington: Everyone Hates Them, but We’ll Give You 1 Magic Way To Deal With it

Updated 8/23/20 – Published by: Igor Shapiro

When drivers fail to adhere to road regulations, they are subject to traffic fines. Speeding is primarily regarded as a life-threatening infraction, and as a result, punishments are typically more severe. It is simple to avoid traffic fines; all you need to do is drive safely and follow the road regulations. Any of us would prefer not to spend an hour driving to a stationery store searching for pens. We’d bet that even fewer of us would prefer not to go all the way into town and spend the entire day waiting in line to pay a traffic ticket that we believe was given in error in the first place.

If you have a traffic ticket in Washington, the method of paying it varies depending on the jurisdiction that issued it. Still, in most cases, you should be able to do so without having to go to the courthouse. If most of us choose to pay for our tickets online rather than via mail or in person, we can make this assumption. A ticket does not have to be purchased to participate, and that’s why you hired an attorney to help you fight the ticket. Negotiate a better deal, or simply beat the current one.

Remember that if you pay a ticket with a credit card and subsequently elect to reverse your payment, the infraction notification will be processed as if no payment was made. This could result in a default judgment against you, as well as the ticket being sent to collection for all of the offenses on your record. As a result, you will be unable to use your credit or debit card to make any future payments.

Start by looking at the ticket

Check the ticket issued to you because the police and the courts are just like any other business, and they want to be compensated for their services. Why? By paying your ticket, you often admit guilt and relinquish your right to dispute the ticket in most situations. They won when you elected to pay the ticket instead of fighting it, and if they make paying the ticket simple, they won’t have to hire bill collectors to track down unpaid parking and speeding tickets.

In other words, if you are looking for a way to pay for your ticket online, start by taking a look at the actual ticket. It most likely provides a website or phone number you may use to pay the ticket without having to waste time at the courthouse or sending money through the mail. But what should you do if you don’t have the necessary ticket? If you can recall the jurisdiction in which the ticket was issued, you may locate it online. Each state maintains a directory of county courts, which is an excellent place to start if you’re looking for information on your ticket or simply trying to find the relevant website to deposit payment to the county court. If you have just relocated and have not yet updated your DMV records with your new location, the notice may never reach your inbox.

Beware of convenience fees

Most courts and government bodies do not want to foot the expense for credit card processing, so they charge convenience fees when a consumer completes a transaction or pays through the internet. In exchange for the ease of paying with a credit card or debit card online, they will almost certainly impose a convenience fee, which will be either a percentage of the amount, such as 2 percent, or a few dollars. The simplicity of paying online and knowing that your bill has been paid beats standing in line or crossing your fingers that your mailed payment will arrive on time—the peace of mind is well worth the small price, in our opinion.

Why you should consider not paying the ticket (yet)

As previously said, paying the ticket is a statement that you are conceding defeat and pleading guilty in front of the judge. There are various ways to overcome a traffic ticket, even if you know you are guilty. While you may have no valid legal response to your ticket, several options are available to you. Determine whether the ticket was printed incorrectly, whether an officer or the court failed to file it appropriately, and whether, if you are lucky, the officer simply does not show up to the court to contest your ticket.

The good news is that paying your ticket will conclude the entire process; you won’t have to worry about whether or not your attorney will be able to get the ticket dismissed or whether or not you’ll be required to attend some sort of online traffic school. However, the long-term ramifications of pleading guilty and handing up money go far beyond the current traffic infraction. If you accumulate a large number of tickets in a short period, your license will be suspended. Furthermore, any tickets recorded on your record may, and most likely will, result in higher insurance premiums. If you don’t pay now, you’ll be paying for a very long time.

“Is fighting easier than paying?”

The time and effort required to contest a traffic penalty for many drivers are simply not worth it. Regardless of whether you have a valid defense, fighting a traffic ticket will need you to either appear in court numerous times or engage a traffic lawyer to represent you in court and represent you in the courtroom. However, the ultimate truth is that fighting your ticket is frequently a better option than simply paying it. Speaking with an attorney who can evaluate your ticket for viable defenses and educate you on standard deferment programs as well as other choices is the only way to be sure.

How to Pay Traffic Tickets – The Right Way

As part of the Law Office of Igor A. Shapiro, we fight back and battle to obtain you the best bargain possible or even beat the ticket in its entirety. We will make it simple to fight back and have your ticket reduced or canceled. Just a few clicks on our website or a quick phone call. Contact us today 425-264-2000