Hello, Yesterday I received a seatbelt ticket even though the seat belt was on. It was given to me by a Washington state patrol officer. I was wearing a Black leather jacket and and my seatbelt are a very dark shade of blue. We were traveling south on 167 when he pulled beside me at the off ramp to 410 east. As I exited to 410 he jumped in behind me and put his lights on. I pulled over and he walked up saying my seat belt was not in that position and came back with a ticket.

I feel he didn't have enough time to make a judgement on whether I had a seat belt on or not and with the added dark jacket and dark seatbelts. I think he just made a honest mistake. I did not deny or argue with the officer.

I want to contest it because I have a CDL and our company has started a points system plus I was in a company pickup. That being said I can't afford to take time off from work so I "might" get off or from what it sounds like more likely the judge will side with the officer and I will be out a day of work and then have to still pay the fine. Which as i said the fine I don't care about its the thing going on my record that pisses me off.

In my research I think I can do a hearing by mail to the Pierce county district court. Can anyone confirm that is available for my seat belt situation http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/index.aspx?nid=818 last paragraph

If so what is the procedure I need to follow? Do i mail the ticket in now with the contested box check and then mail in the hearing by mail form. The bottom of that form says the court needs to receive it with in 15 days of the infraction. can i just mail it all in at the same time?

If I choose to go the mail route can I insert photos of me in the pickup with the seat belt on and diagrams of the road? Or is the mail in hearing only for a statement and that will be all that the judge takes into account to make his decision?

Or do i just say screw it pay the fine? I myself disagree with the seat belt law but it is the law so i wear it. I just hate to get taken advantage of. The government gets enough of my money as it is and I dont want to give it any more then i have to


Thank you
Michael