Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: WA
Hello, I received a red light camera ticket for making a rolling right-on-red at an intersection. In WA state red light camera tickets are suppose to be processed as parking tickets and should not go on my driving record. I mailed back asking for a mitigation hearing. I received back a letter informing me about the time/date of the mitigation hearing, along with some other options. One of the paragraphs mentions the possibility of deferring the ticket. However I am confused how this is possible, as I thought only tickets that go on your driving record can be deferred. How would deferral work for my particular situation ?
Here is a picture of the relevant paragraph: http://i.imgur.com/E7Xi71a.jpg
Did they just not bother printing various versions of this document for various situations and this info is just wrong for my case ?
Thanks!
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
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sharkme
I thought only tickets that go on your driving record can be deferred.
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Quoting RCW 46.63.070(5)(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.
You can get 1 deferral for each type of ticket which is 2 total. However I’m not sure how that works for a camera ticket, so I would ask the judge to verify that the deferral for moving violations remains available for later use. In mitigation you will probably be offered a reduced fine anyway, so quite possibly the deferral will not be as good a deal.
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
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searcher99
You can get 1 deferral for each type of ticket which is 2 total.
What type of tickets are there ? Moving violation and non-moving violation tickets ? Or are there other categories ?
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searcher99
the deferral will not be as good a deal
Why is that ? Does a deferral come with court fees ? Or just because I won't be able to use it on a later, presumably more costly, offense ?
Thanks!
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
There should only be moving and non-moving, and since the camera ticket is treated as a parking ticket that means non-moving--but just to be sure I’d be inclined to ask the judge.
Deferrals usually come with court fees typically more than $100, which is why I’m not sure whether a reduced fine through mitigation might be cheaper. Which court is your hearing at?
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
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searcher99
Deferrals usually come with court fees typically more than $100, which is why I’m not sure whether a reduced fine through mitigation might be cheaper. Which court is your hearing at?
Bellevue court.
The fine is $125 to start off with so probably not worth deferring it.
Does anyone know how a mitigation hearing generally goes, what would be the best approach to get my fine lowered ?
Thanks!
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
I haven’t heard camera ticket hearings at Bellevue Court but typically there’s a standard amount they will reduce by when people show up for mitigation. For example in Renton they will usually reduce a $125 ticket to about $75. Probably it will be similar for you in Bellevue.
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
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searcher99
I haven’t heard camera ticket hearings at Bellevue Court but typically there’s a standard amount they will reduce by when people show up for mitigation. For example in Renton they will usually reduce a $125 ticket to about $75. Probably it will be similar for you in Bellevue.
Thanks, any idea what questions I'm likely to be asked / how should I answer them i order to get my fine reduced ?
Re: Can You Get a Deferral for a Red Light Camera Ticket
It’s likely that everyone with the same camera infraction will be offered the same fine reduction. Probably you won’t be asked any questions, but if so just explain what happened.