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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    28

    Question How to Contest a Carpool Ramp Violation

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

    During my morning commute I used the carpool lane of the Interstate 5 on-ramp as a single occupant. Typically at that hour the metered ramp is not active (as traffic is very light), and there was a slow-moving truck in the single occupancy lane, so I decided to pass it using the carpool lane of the ramp. Turns out that despite light traffic conditions, the ramp was metered on this particular morning, and a police officer saw me, and I received a $136 ticket.

    I requested discovery which contains the officer's statement, copied here:
    On Monday, June 26, 2017 I was performing assigned traffic duties in King County. I am currently assigned to District 2, Detachment 1, driving a fully marked patrol vehicle and wearing a department issued uniform. I observed this vehicle traveling in a designated ramp requiring two or more passengers while only traveling with a single occupant in the vehicle. The driver could not provide a legal justification for why they were traveling in the HOV lane.
    I don't expect to find any way out of the ticket. I would like to request some advice on changing the ticket to a lesser one.

    I attended a traffic court hearing a few years ago, and my memory may be a bit fuzzy, but at the very beginning of the hearing, the judge called up all of the traffic ticket lawyers, and within a minute or two, they changed about a dozen moving violations to parking tickets.

    Now this being my first ticket, and being a very minor one, I am hoping that I can use the same strategy used by those lawyers to request a modification to the ticket. Can anybody explain if that's possible and how one requests it?

  2. #2

    Default Re: Contesting Carpool Ramp Violation (or Requesting Change to Lesser Ticket)

    Lawyers get to go first in court. If you are representing yourself typically you show up to your court date, talk with the prosecutor about a reduction of the charges i.e. a plea-bargain and since they like their lives to be easier they'll usually strike a bargain where you admit fault to a lesser charge such as a non-moving violation of inattentive driving. Then the prosecutor and you talk to the judge for a moment later on where you and the prosecutor confirm you plead guilt to a lesser charge, which the judge will typically accept unless they are not allowed to (school/construction zones for example). Keep in mind there is no guarantee the prosecutor will offer you a plea-bargain and it may not be the terms you want.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    28

    Default Re: Contesting Carpool Ramp Violation (or Requesting Change to Lesser Ticket)

    Quote Quoting spikespencer
    View Post
    Lawyers get to go first in court. If you are representing yourself typically you show up to your court date, talk with the prosecutor about a reduction of the charges i.e. a plea-bargain and since they like their lives to be easier they'll usually strike a bargain where you admit fault to a lesser charge such as a non-moving violation of inattentive driving. Then the prosecutor and you talk to the judge for a moment later on where you and the prosecutor confirm you plead guilt to a lesser charge, which the judge will typically accept unless they are not allowed to (school/construction zones for example). Keep in mind there is no guarantee the prosecutor will offer you a plea-bargain and it may not be the terms you want.
    Thanks for the information. I'll do some searching, but any tips for getting a plea bargain? Is it possible to be done ahead of the trial (i.e. over the phone, or in person at the PA's office)? Is it worth mentioning this is a first offense and a relatively minor infraction?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Contesting Carpool Ramp Violation (or Requesting Change to Lesser Ticket)

    Quote Quoting rodut
    View Post
    I'll do some searching, but any tips for getting a plea bargain?
    Read this.
    Quote Quoting rodut
    Is it possible to be done ahead of the trial (i.e. over the phone, or in person at the PA's office)?
    That depends on the prosecutor.
    Quote Quoting rodut
    Is it worth mentioning this is a first offense and a relatively minor infraction?
    If you prefer, you likely qualify for a deferral.

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