I got a speeding ticket for 5 over from the Washington State Patrol. Should I mitigate or contest the ticket? Which route should I go down to get it off of my record?
MitigatingMitigating a ticket in Washington does not remove it from your record. It usually means you pay less - sometimes way less - but it stays on your record. DeferringCliff Gilley mentioned this. At either a contesting or mitigating hearing, if you have a clean record, you can ask the judge to defer the ticket. If you go an entire year without getting another ticket, the first ticket will disappear. If you get a second ticket, you will have to pay both of them, and both will go on your record. It's totally up to the judge whether or not to grant a deferment.ContestingMy partner has gotten speeding tickets in two different Washington counties in the past five years. Both times, my partner decided to hire a lawyer to go argue in court and make sure the speeding ticket did not go on anyone's record.The first speeding ticket, which was in Pierce County, was dismissed entirely. We had to pay the lawyer, but not the ticket. The second speeding ticket was in Thurston County, which was trickier, but the lawyer got the judge to agree to change it from a speeding ticket to expired tabs. Expired tabs is a non-moving violation that does not affect your insurance costs. We still had to pay the same amount to the county, and we had to pay the lawyer too, but our insurance costs didn't go up and there are no moving violations on my partner's driving record.The lawyers told us that in Pierce County it is easy to dismiss speeding tickets, but very difficult in Thurston County, so they did the changing-it-to-a-nonmoving-violation instead. Different municipalities have different laws, so there isn't one best way to fight a speeding ticket for all of Washington state. If it is really important to you to not have the ticket on your record, important enough to pay money for - probably way more money than just paying the ticket - hire a traffic lawyer who has worked in your county before. There are lawyers who specialize in contesting tickets, and they'll know the right way to do it in your jurisdiction. You won't even have to show up in court.It cost us $250 to hire a lawyer for each ticket. That's twice what the ticket cost. So you have to be a pretty stubborn cuss to do it.
Ticket for no proof of insurance (Washington State)?
I recently got a ticket for no proof of insurance, but at the time I did have insurance. I have looked it up and learned that if you present the court with your proof of insurance verifying that at that time they will dismiss the case and you will get a 25$ administrative fee. My question is on the ticket do I select the first choice (I have enclosed a check or money order, in U.S. funds, for the amount listed. I understand this will go on my driving record if "traffic" is checked. DO NOT SEND CASH. NSF checks will be treated as failure to respond.), the second choice (Mitigation hearing. I agree I have committed the infraction(s), but I want a hearing to explain the circumstances. Please send me a court date, and I promise to appear on that date. I know I can ask for witnesses to appear but they are not required to appear. I understand this will go on my driving record if "traffic" is checked. The court may allow time payments or reduce the amount where allowed by law.) or the third option (Contested hearing. I want to contest(challenge) this infraction. I did not commit the infraction. Please send me a court date, and I promise to appear on that date. The state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that I committed the infraction. I know I can require (subpoena) witnesses, including the officer who wrote the ticket to attend the hearing. The court will tell me how to request a witnes's appearance. I understand this will go on my driving record if I lose and "traffic" is checked.) Also, from what I read they say if you prove you had insurance they will "dismiss it and give you a 25$ dollar administrative fee", so does that mean its like you never got the ticket?
Does a misdemeanor go away? How long does it take?
How long do you have to list it might be a better question. They don't go away. After a certain period of time they are simply not relevant. A misdemeanor a year ago is certainly more ‘serious' than that exact same misdemeanor ten years ago.How long does it need to keep being brought up? That depends on a particular job and its requirements and how the question is asked. But it's always there unless dismissed or expunged or pardoned if someone wants to dig that far and deep into the past.