My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Washington, Pierce County, Tacoma
Well I had just got off a long, stressful day at work, at about 2am, turning onto a main street(from a stop)I had a lapse of maturity and accelerated spiritdly, in a pickup this easily results in spinning of the tires in damp conditions. It may or may not have been my intention to do so, although I will say that sometimes doing something dumb and disruptive is how some immature people blow off steam.
Anyway, before said occurance I made sure the road was clear, at 2am it was, except for 1 vehicle stopped at a red light down the street. Turns out this 1 vehicle was a Pierce County Sheriff. When asked the usual question, I responded with "was it that peel out back there?", in which he responded with a yes, without any other elaboration about speed, acceleration. When he came back with the ticket he explained how reckless driving is a serious crime that could result in jail time and loss of my license, but that he was not going to do that, he says that just in case i was not familiar with the rcw that means any spinning of the tires, exactly which rcw he was referring to was not clear. He hands me my infraction, he reminds me that he got it all on video,(as I was informed at first contact), tells me to pay it within 15 days, or I could lose my license due to fta. I get my documents back, reluctantly check the damage and it turns out I was being charged with negligent driving 2nd degree.(46.61.525), $550.
Read plenty of the neg. 2 threads on here, did not come across many like mine, most from speeding. From my understanding, to be charged with the vague infraction of neg. 2 you must be observed doing something that 1)a normal person would not do 2) endangers or is likely to endanger people or property
I met the 1st requirement, but could it be argued that peeling out 10ft down a empty road was not endagering(the truck was not drifting around or anything)? Or am i screwed. $550 sure is a lot of money, but negilent driving being on my record is what I'm most worried about.
Were my actions stupid, yes. Did I learn my lesson? I learned how quickly I could lose my license and disrupt my life with dumb decisions. Nonetheless, I feel like this charge is a tad excessive, and would like to know my chances for getting it reduced(non-traffic?), or better yet making it go away. Deferrel has been used for speeding in Pacific county, so that's a no go, BTW was my deferred finding lost the second I was issued the ticket, or do I have to admit/be found guilty for this to happen(just so happens im on my 5th month of the 6 month probationary period) I'm thinking about going with a traffic lawyer, for I am not well versed with legal stuff, have a bit of social anxiety and most of all want the best chances not having this dumb action sky rocket my insurance rates

