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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    2

    Default Fail to Signal (46.61.310) and Def Stop Lamp (46.37.200)

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Washington

    So I was about to enter onto a freeway on-ramp by merging into a left turn only lane at an intersection, but as I was entering a patrol car from behind me pulled me over right as I got on the on-ramp. They cited me for failing to signal as I made that lane change, as well as my center stop lamp being out. I'm pretty sure I signaled though, and discovered afterwards my rear-left blinker light was indeed out, along with the stop lamp as the officer cited (both of which I fixed the very next day).

    I'd like to fight this but I don't have any witnesses (just me in the car) and feel like it would just be his word against mine. I think my only defense would be because of other defective stop lamp, me not knowing of the turn signal as well makes sense, but then again makes me look negligent of car maintenance and probably wouldn't bode too well in court. Would it be possible or feasible at all to be able to meet and talk again with the officer who cited me to reconsider that situation or will it all have to be done in court when if I do a contested hearing?

    And for the stop lamp at least, on the court date that they'd send me would I have to go in before that date with my car to prove it was fixed or can that be done during the hearing?

    Ultimately I feel I was wrongly accused of failing to signal when it was a defective turn signal, and even with both of them fixed I'll still get the 2-point infraction for the fail to signal. And I'm not sure if I should go with the mitigated or contested hearing. I'll update this when I get the discovery report. Sorry if any of these questions seem like common knowledge, I've only gotten speeding tickets in the past and haven't dealt with these before.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    3,577

    Default Re: Fail to Signal (46.61.310) and Def Stop Lamp (46.37.200)

    WA doesn't assign "points".

    Do you have a receipt from a service station or (preferably) a dealer that can attest to the fact that BOTH lights were out and that BOTH were fixed? If so, you should be able to get out of both infractions. If not, you've learned a valuable lesson -- the next time you get a citation for a "fix-it" ticket, get it fixed at a place whose testimony the court will accept.

    Barry

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Fail to Signal (46.61.310) and Def Stop Lamp (46.37.200)

    Ah, well either way I called my insurance representative and the fail to signal will increase rates, but not by a whole lot thankfully.

    Unfortunately no, I do all my own car repair including this blinker and stop lamp bulb replacement, and can't really say anyone else like a dealer would have this documented as I only knew that the blinker was out when the officer pulled me over. Is this what I get for saving myself a bunch money by not going into a car repair place to fix something easy like this, no documented evidence from an outside party? In the future how would I get such documentation if I fix something on my own, then later if need be, be valid in a court setting?

    Also I'm wondering if I can split up dealing with these infractions somehow. If the cop shows up to the contested hearing, and I lose the signal part, I'd hate to have to pay the equal fine of the dead stop lamp, which could be easily reduced in a mitigation hearing. Or will each violation be treated separately even if I can't convince the judge that I did signal? Or could I go in before a court date to show them I fixed the stop lamp, and get that taken care of before fighting the fail to signal? Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    3,577

    Default Re: Fail to Signal (46.61.310) and Def Stop Lamp (46.37.200)

    The officer will NOT be there -- unless you issue a subpoena. You should probably read through this thread -- it will give you some idea of what goes on in WA courts. Personally, I think the blinker will be reduced to $25, assuming you can produce a receipt for the bulb. You can then either contest the turn signal charge, or just get a deferral -- meaning your insurance will NOT go up. But, read through that thread, then decide what you want to do.

    Barry

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