How to Fight Distracted Driving Tickets in Washington State

Key Highlights

• Distracted driving tickets in Washington State target activities like cell phone use and other distractions, as detailed in the Electronic-DUI (E-DUI) law.
• Laws prohibit handheld electronic device use, including texting and typing, even while stopped at a red light.
• Penalties for infractions impact insurance rates, making it vital to contest the ticket to avoid long-term financial damage.
• Drivers have options such as pleading not guilty and gathering evidence to challenge their citation.
• Seeking assistance from a skilled traffic ticket attorney can improve your chances of a favorable outcome.

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Introduction

Distracted driving tickets are becoming a big problem for people who drive in Washington State. Many of these traffic tickets are given out because of the Electronic-DUI law. This law punishes people who use cell phones or other handheld things while they are driving a car. If you break this law, you can get fines, lose points on your driving record, and see your insurance rates go up. Trying to fight these tickets can help lower the impact on you. It is good to know about the laws, what punishments you could get, and what you can do to defend yourself. Knowing these things can really help save your money and your driving record. Here is what you need to know to deal with this problem in Washington.

Understanding Distracted Driving Laws in Washington State

Washington State has some of the toughest laws about distracted driving in the United States. These rules try to stop things that get in the way of safe driving. The law, known as RCW 46.61.672, says you can’t use a handheld cell phone while driving. This means things like texting or watching videos with your phone are not allowed. Doing anything that uses your hands on the phone breaks the law.

The RCW gives details about cell phone use in Washington and talks about the penalties you get if you break these driving rules. The new rules are here to make driving safer for all people because distractions are one of the biggest reasons for crashes in Washington.

What Constitutes Distracted Driving?

Distracted driving means doing anything that takes your whole attention away from driving. Many people think about cell phone use first, but distractions on the road are not just about electronic devices. Any time your eyes leave the road, your hands come off the wheel, or your mind goes somewhere else, you are distracted.

Some common distractions are eating, putting on makeup, or looking for things in your car. When you use your cell phone for calling, texting, or browsing, it makes the risk even worse. In the United States, distracted drivers cause thousands of crashes every year.

In Washington, if you get caught doing these things, you can get a driving ticket. Law officers there work hard to make sure people who break these rules are held responsible. No matter the type of distractions, if you put your focus and safety at risk, you could face fines under state law.

Types of Electronic Device Restrictions While Driving

Washington’s distracted driving laws are there to lower the dangers that come from using an electronic device like a cell phone while driving. These laws say you can’t use most handheld devices when you drive, not even at red lights. Here is what you can and can’t do:

• Prohibited: You are not allowed to type, text, or look things up on a handheld electronic device or cell phone.
• Allowed: You can use hands-free calling, like Bluetooth or a voice command, as long as it only takes one tap or a simple swipe.
• Prohibited: You can’t watch videos or use the camera on your phone while driving.
• Exemptions: If you work in emergency services, or if you are a commercial driver using a CB radio for your job, the rules are different.

These laws make it clear what counts as cell phone violations in Washington. You have to use hands-free setups if you want to use your cell phone while driving. If you don’t, you could get a ticket.

Common Reasons Drivers Receive Distracted Driving Tickets

Many distracted driving tickets in Washington come from people using their cell phones. This includes texting or making a call while driving. Law enforcement officers in the state are always on the lookout for these actions.

But, it is not just about using a cell phone. If you change your GPS or scroll through a music playlist while driving, that can also lead to a ticket. Distracted driving is one of the main reasons for accidents in Washington. These tickets help to remind people just how important it is for all of us to pay full attention when we are behind the wheel.

Use of Cell Phones and Texting

Using a cell phone while driving is still one of the top reasons that people get distracted driving tickets in Washington. Even if you just send a quick text, answer a call, or look at social media, you can put others on the road in danger.

Since 2017, the Electronic-DUI law made it illegal to use a handheld cell phone for anything, not even texting at a red light. If you do, you may get a citation under RCW 46.61.672.

To avoid a cell phone ticket, you can use Bluetooth or another hands-free method instead. But you must still follow the law. If you interact too much with your setup, you can be pulled over and get a cell phone ticket. If you get a citation for cell phone use and you think it was not fair, you do have a way to fight it.

Other Distracting Behaviors Behind the Wheel

A lot of non-electronic distractions can lead to an infraction when you are driving. In Washington, the law looks at anything that takes your mind off the road, not just at using phones. Here are some common things people do:

• Eating or drinking while you steer the car.
• Smoking, which can make you pay less attention.
• Reaching for things while the car is moving.
• Being a lookout for distractions outside, like roadside ads.

You might think these actions are not a big deal, but they add to the number of accidents on the road. You need to know that these are called secondary offenses. The police can give you a ticket for them if you do something else wrong, too. To avoid an infraction and keep safe, stay focused when you drive in Washington.

Penalties and Consequences of a Distracted Driving Ticket

Getting a distracted driving ticket in Washington can cause a lot of problems. You will have to pay fines. But that is just the start. Your insurance premiums may also go up. This ticket will stay on your driving record for a long time.

It is not only about the money. A distracted driving ticket is a moving violation. Insurance companies often raise your insurance premiums for these. If you want to lower the risk, you can try to fight your citation. It helps to know the details of your driving ticket and talk to a lawyer who knows about this. If you act early, you can stop bigger problems later on.

Fines and Fees

Distracted driving can get you big fines in Washington State. If you get caught for the first time, the fine is $136. If you do it again within five years, you will have to pay $234. People who keep getting these tickets have to pay a lot more money.

Here’s a quick table so you can see the fines:

Offense	Fine Amount
First Distracted Driving	$136
Second Violation	$234
Dangerously Distracted	$99 (Secondary Fine)

Some things, like using ticket fixers or results from a contested hearing in Washington, may help you get lower fines. But if you don’t get any tickets at all, you can avoid bigger problems, like higher insurance rates and more money out of your pocket. It’s best to stay careful on the road.

Impact on Your Driving Record and Insurance

Getting a distracted driving ticket can bring more trouble than just a fine. It can go on your driving record and make your insurance premiums go up. When you get an infraction, points get added to your driving record. This can label you as a higher-risk driver.

Insurance companies check this record. They see the infraction and will usually raise your insurance premiums. Some sources say just one mobile phone infraction can make your rates go up by as much as 22%.

In the long run, the cost of fines and paying more for insurance can really add up. That is why it is important to fight tickets when you can. Standing up to unfair charges can help save you money.

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To fight these tickets well, you should act fast. In the next section, you will find out what steps to take if you get one.

Immediate Steps to Take After Receiving a Ticket

When you get a distracted driving ticket, the first thing to do is try to stay calm and think clearly. Make sure you write down what happened, the time and place, and the names of people who saw it, if there are any. You should review all details on the citation, such as the kind of infraction you are charged with. This can help you know what to do next. Keep a copy for your records, because this driving ticket may change your driving record and could affect your insurance rates in the future, especially if you plan to fight the citation.

Document the Incident

After a driving ticket, you need to pay close attention to your surroundings. Get all the facts like the time, place, and what was happening when you got a distracted driving ticket. Write down anything that was a distraction, like emergency services or other cars that might have played a part. Make sure you note how you spoke with law enforcement. This helps make the situation clearer. Keeping a true and detailed record of what happened can be very important later if you want to fight the effect of the driving ticket on your driving record.

Review the Details on Your Citation

Looking closely at your citation is one good way for a distracted driver to challenge a ticket. Check all important details like the date and time of the infraction. Make sure the charges listed are clear, and see if there is any note about cell phone use or other distractions. Compare this information with your own driving record. You need to confirm that the officer followed the infraction rules of limited jurisdiction when writing the ticket. By checking all of this, you might find mistakes. These differences could help you when you try to fight the citation for cell phone use or other distractions while driving.

Legal Options for Contesting Your Ticket

There are a few ways you can deal with a distracted driving ticket. If you plead not guilty, you can ask for a contested hearing. This will let you try to fight the driving ticket in front of a judge. To build a good case, you should get as much evidence as you can. You might want to have witness statements, photos, or words from experts, especially about if you used a mobile device at the time. It helps to know about the infraction rules of limited jurisdiction, as these can play a big part in what happens next. This knowledge may help you get a better result in court.

Pleading Not Guilty and Requesting a Hearing

Pleading not guilty to a distracted driving ticket gives you the chance to attend a contested hearing. At this hearing, you can show evidence that may help fight the citation. For example, you might say there was a mistake in the officer’s observation or that you were singled out for cell phone use. You need to ask for a hearing on time. Infraction rules of limited jurisdiction come with specific deadlines, so be sure not to miss them. If you handle this process well, you could keep your insurance rates from going up, and you might avoid other problems on your driving record that come from a driving ticket or infraction, especially those linked to cell phone use.

Gathering Evidence and Building Your Case

Collecting proof is very important if you want to fight a distracted driving ticket. Start by getting a copy of your citation. Look at it to see the exact charges, like if it says you used a cell phone or had other distractions. After that, you should gather other things that can help your case. This can be statements from people who saw what happened, photos of the place, or any logs that show what you were doing before the incident. When you put all this together, it helps show your innocence and can really help you with your driving ticket. Keep in mind, even small details about your cell phone use or other distractions can make a big difference for you.

Working with a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Washington

Dealing with traffic tickets can be hard, especially if you get a distracted driving ticket. It helps to have a traffic ticket attorney in Washington by your side. They know all about the infraction rules of limited jurisdiction and how these connect to a distracted driving ticket. An attorney in this area uses their knowledge of local laws to challenge your ticket, collect the right proof, and help build your case. With their help, you can make your case stronger. In the end, having this kind of support may lower the bad effects on your driving record and your insurance rates.

How an Attorney Can Help Your Case

Dealing with a distracted driving ticket can be hard, but having an experienced attorney can help a lot. The attorney knows a lot about the law. They will check every detail, from the citation you get to the infraction rules of limited jurisdiction. This way, they don’t miss anything that can help your case. They use what they know about traffic laws and find possible ways to defend you, like showing you were not really distracted or you didn’t misuse a device. This can build a strong plan to fight the driving ticket, and might even save your driving record and keep your insurance rates from going up.

Choosing the Right Legal Representation

Finding the right legal help can make a big difference in how your distracted driving ticket case goes. You should look for a lawyer who has a lot of experience with traffic violations, especially things like a cell phone ticket and other distractions while driving. Get someone who knows the infraction rules of limited jurisdiction in Washington. They should understand the local laws and what defenses are possible. It’s also smart to check how well they do in contested hearings and how they handle cases about lowering insurance premiums. If you get a traffic ticket attorney, it can help take stress off you and might give you a better chance in court.

Conclusion

Dealing with a distracted driving ticket in Washington State can be tough. It’s important to know your choices and what steps to take right away. This helps protect your driving record and can lower the hit to your insurance premiums. You may want to collect evidence or get help from a traffic ticket attorney. If you act fast, it will boost your chances of a good result. There are more distractions now from cell phones and other electronic devices, so it’s key to stay alert and safe when you be on the road in Washington.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fight a distracted driving ticket without a lawyer?

Yes, you can fight a distracted driving ticket on your own. You need to get all the evidence you can, check every part of your citation, and you might have to speak for yourself at the hearing. But, if your case is not simple, having someone who knows the law can really help you win. This is true when a driving ticket problem gets harder to handle.

How does a distracted driving ticket affect my insurance rates?

A distracted driving ticket can make your insurance rates go up. Insurance companies see this driving ticket as risky behavior. The amount your rates go up depends on the provider and your situation. If you get more than one distracted driving ticket, your costs can rise even more over time. It is important to deal with the ticket right away.

Are there any defenses that work against distracted driving tickets in Washington?

Yes, in Washington, there are the few ways you can fight a distracted driving ticket. For example, you might be able to show that there was an emergency that made you do it. You can also prove that you were not really distracted at the time. Because every one of the cases is different, it is a good idea to talk to a traffic attorney. They can give advice that fits your case.

What if the officer did not see me using my phone?

If the officer did not see you using your phone, you may be able to fight the ticket. Get proof for your side, like statements from people who were there or video that shows what happened. Bring this information to your hearing. It can help make your defense stronger.

How long does a distracted driving ticket stay on my record in Washington?

In Washington, if you get a distracted driving ticket, it will stay on your driving record for five years. During this time, it can affect your insurance rates and even your driving privileges. After five years, the driving ticket usually drops off your record, unless you get more violations during that time. still affect what you pay for insurance and can change other parts of your driving record.