Submitted by Gehrkenator22 t3_101r2t4 in Washington
As indicated in the title, I'm looking for any advice for a speeding ticket I received today on I5 by Everett. I moved to WA a few months back and am very much still learning the system. All advice is greatly appreciated.
The big thing is that I was definitely not speeding. I was deliberately going 60mph at most miles before passing where the officer was due to surrounding traffic, which my fiancée can back up as well. Despite this, said officer is trying to claim that I was going 72mph, even though he had someone else pulled over less than a minute before he'd pulled me over.
The entire event seemed extremely off. It took maybe 2 minutes from the moment I was fully stopped until I was handed a ticket, which is light-years faster than anything I have ever seen in the past. The officer's demeanor was disingenuous from the start and the officer was rather condescending, making snarky remarks whenever given the chance during the brief exchange we unfortunately had.
Something I wonder is that maybe I was mistakenly pulled over as I was being passed by people going quite a bit faster than myself; 10 mph over is what we had very briefly discussed moments before everything happened.
Regardless, I am baffled that this happened and fully intend to contest this. Any advice at all would be very much appreciated, even if it's a simple "you're screwed". If there's anything I haven't mentioned (which I'm sure there is) that would give helpful context, please let me know and I will reply with the information as well as update the OP. Thank you for your time!
WrongWeekToQuit t1_j2p52oa wrote
Contest the ticket. Check the contested box and mail it in. It doesn't hurt to do this, and gives you time to see what evidence they have.
Once you get your court date notice back, make a Request for Discovery and get the officer's notes and all proof of the infraction. Make sure that request is certified mail or some other traceable method. Look online for the language to use.
If you get the requested materials, review the evidence. Since it sounds like the officer lost sight of you, they will need some proof that they measured your speed and tag number (e.g. laser photo) so they knew they were pulling over the right car and not something similar. If there's no proof that it was your car, or if you don't receive the materials by the court date, go to court and request a dismissal.
Since the ticket was issued quickly, there's a chance you were measured by another officer. They sometimes work in teams on I5 with one officer on an on -ramp/overpass or airplace, and a group just chasing down drivers handing out tickets. These usually can be thrown out as heresay unless the ticket is issued (along with notes) from the measuring officer.
Even if they have proof, since you claim you weren't speeding, testify as such. Bring any evidence you have. Dashcam, passengers, etc. If this is your first offence, I've seen judges accept a defendant's testimony and lower the fine or dismiss. This is a last ditch effort, and low chance of success, but I have seen people admit to speeding but "had a screaming kid in the back", or "really had to pee", get let off. Really depends on the judge.