Click here to fight your Washington traffic ticket.

When you get a traffic ticket in the state of Washington, there are several ways to respond to the citation. One of them is paying the fine, which is considered an admission of guilt. In this article, we give you detailed information about paying your Washington traffic ticket and tell you what to do if you can’t afford to pay. 

How to Pay a Traffic Ticket in Washington

When you receive a traffic ticket in Washington, you can respond in one of the following ways:

• You can plead guilty and accept to pay the fine.
• You can plead guilty and request a mitigation hearing. If you choose this option, you will have the chance to explain the circumstances of the infraction to the court and have your fine reduced.
• You can plead not guilty and request a contested hearing. 

Regardless of how you plead, you must respond before the due date indicated on the ticket. In the state of Washington, you have 15 days from the infraction date to do this. If you don’t respond to your traffic ticket within the given time frame, you risk facing additional penalties such as extra fines and suspension of your driver’s license.

Things to keep in mind before you pay a traffic ticket

When responding to the citation, it is important to keep in mind that paying a traffic ticket is always an admission of guilt. This means that:

• You won’t have the right to challenge your traffic ticket in court.
• The ticket will remain on your driving record for 5 years. 
• The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) may suspend your driver’s license, depending on how many tickets you already have on your driving record. This includes any out-of-state traffic tickets.
• Your car insurance rates are likely to increase. For example, the average insurance increase after you receive a speeding ticket in Washington is $22 per month for three years or $800 in total.

How to check if you have an unpaid traffic ticket

To find out whether you have an unpaid traffic ticket, you need to contact the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) Customer Service by calling (360) 902-3900. The DOL office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Alternatively, you can visit your local DOL office in person. To locate the nearest office, click here. 

Washington State court directory

District courts in Washington have jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. Criminal jurisdiction includes misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor cases that involve traffic offenses.

To find the district court where your traffic ticket was issued and obtain more information about the court’s specific rules and requirements, click here. 

Paying your traffic ticket in Washington

There are a few different ways to pay for your traffic ticket in Washington: online, by phone, by mail, and in person.

Online

To pay your Washington traffic ticket online, you first need to find your district court’s website and log onto the court’s payment portal. Make sure to have your citation or case number ready. You can pay using a debit or credit card, however, keep in mind that you may be charged a small fee for processing the payment. 

An even easier option is to use WinIt’s in-app payment system. Here you can also search for a ticket using violation or license plate numbers or dispute your ticket by uploading your citation and other evidence directly in the app. The WinIt experts will review the violation and schedule a hearing to contest it.

By phone

To pay your Washington traffic ticket over the phone, search for your court’s phone number. You can pay using a debit or credit card, but expect an additional transaction fee. Have your citation or case number on hand.

By mail

If you prefer to pay your traffic ticket by mail, start by checking the “pay” option on the back of the ticket. You can enclose a check or money order made payable to the district court for the amount listed on the ticket. Don’t send cash in the mail. 

Sign and mail to the court address indicated on the front of the ticket. Don’t forget to include your citation number and contact information. The court must receive your response within 30 days of the violation date.

In person

Finally, to pay your Washington traffic ticket in person, visit your local district court during its opening hours. You will need to bring valid proof of identity and a method of payment such as cash, credit or debit card, a cashier’s check, or money order. Note that personal checks are not accepted. 

Are There Payment Plans Available?

If you need more time to pay your Washington traffic ticket, you may be eligible for a monthly payment plan. You should set up a payment plan with the court to avoid having your license suspended or having your fine sent to a collection agency.

When to ask for a payment plan?

You can ask the court for a payment plan both before, during, or after the hearing. In either case, you will need to show proof of your financial situation, such as pay stubs, tax forms, rent, food stamps, ABD, TANF, SSI/SSDI, mortgage bills, and debts. 

If you are receiving or are eligible to receive government financial assistance, you may be able to get lower monthly payment plans. Alternatively, the judge may allow you to perform community service instead of paying the fine.

What if you don’t have a hearing?

In case you didn’t ask for a hearing, you should call the court directly and ask how to set up a payment plan. You need to do this as soon as possible as the court won’t be able to set up a plan once the fine has gone to collections. 

If your payment plan request is approved, the court will send you a copy of the plan agreement, including your payment schedule.