Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    1

    Unhappy Speeding Ticket in a School Zone - WA - King County

    My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: Washington

    I received a speeding ticket in December of last year from a WSP officer in King County. The officer wrote me up for doing 31 in a school zone (20). I had to change the court date twice because I could not make it on the days that they had assigned me. I am scheduled to appear on Friday March 13th in the King County District Court. Here are my questions:

    1) Can I still subpeona the officer and request discovery even though the court date has been moved twice?

    2) When the signs in school zones say "When children are present" does that mean the hours when school is in session (the entire day), or does that mean when there are literally children outside the school (time before and after school is in session)?

    3) Any additional information or insight anyone could give?

    Any help would be GREATLY appreciated because I think I have to submit the subpeona tomorrow if I can.

    THANKS!
    Julie Ann

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Speeding Ticket in a School Zone - WA - King County

    To anser your questions:
    1) yes, you can continue to subpeona the Trooper, but you should have done the paperwork before now to make a March 13 date. If you delay to date that its too late, you won't be able to cross examine him if your going to ask questions. You would be on your own.
    2) There are different versions of the school sign. Make sure it didn't have lights on it also. If so, its usually when the lights are flashing. If its just a kid present sign, its to be obeyed anytime that kids are present within 300 ft of the crosswalk, usually on the sidewalk or within range of the street. 24 hours a day.
    3) if you haven't gotten a ticket before or have never used a deferral finding on your court case, you should try that now (especially if its a LIDAR (laser) ticket) You might also look at if traffic school is an option.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    29

    Default Re: Speeding Ticket in a School Zone - WA - King County

    March 13 doesn't give you a lot of time for research, but you can still try. Try looking on http://law.justia.com to find out what the legal definition of a school zone is in your state and when the zone is valid. I think you're going to find that it means from 6-5 or something along those lines. You'll have to look at the laws or talk to a lawyer about when you can subpoena people to appear and request discovery, if discovery is even allowed in your state for traffic infractions (it's not legal in some states).

    Usually it's not a good idea to subpoena the ticketing officer for one good reason -- if he doesn't show up, 90+% of the time the ticket is thrown out because you can't face your accuser. As such, if you plan to fight, the cop's indifference is your best defense. If you're facing a radar ticket you need to look up information on radar; same on lidar if it was a lidar ticket.

    Keep in mind, however, that unless you can prove a flat-out user error on either device you're probably not going to beat the machine. On the other hand, if the law says that the speed limit only applies "when school is in session" then if it was during school break for Christmas/New Year's then you might be able to beat that aspect of it. One final tip; check the margin of error on the device used to clock you as most of them are +/- 1 or 2 miles per hour and you can use that to bargin down to a lesser offense if 11mph over the speed limit is worse than 10 or 9.

    Good luck.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Speeding Tickets: Speeding in School Zone in King County
    By rosesalameh in forum Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-26-2011, 06:18 PM
  2. Speeding Tickets: Speeding Ticket in a School Zone in King County, Washington
    By eldobo in forum Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 09-30-2010, 02:31 PM
  3. Speeding Tickets: Speeding Ticket 88 in a 70, I-90, King County, Wa
    By itsnottrue in forum Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 05-26-2010, 04:23 PM
  4. Speeding Tickets: Speeding Ticket in School Zone (Snohomish County)
    By ddeg10 in forum Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-20-2009, 12:28 PM
  5. Speeding Ticket in King County
    By naliyaho in forum Moving Violations, Parking and Traffic Tickets
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 01-02-2009, 06:15 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources