Got caught on a highway and pulled to the left.
 

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of Washington.

The cop pulled me over because I was speeding, but then the real biggie was that I pulled over on the left shoulder of the highway instead of the right. I was already in the HOV(carpool) lane when the cop turned into my lane and flashed his lights. I got really nervous and went ahead and pulled on the left shoulder lane, it was big enough to pull over and such and had no idea it was illegal, so the cop is pretty much yelling at me and telling me why i did such a thing? All I could do is apologize repeatedly.

He gave me a ticket for $1,064 (Failure to yield the right of way on approach of emergency vehicle (RCW 46.61.210))which I thought was RIDICULOUS and another $550 for driving at 95 m.p.h. in a 70 m.p.h. zone. I checked the washington traffic fine online and found out the $550 fine is for "Second Degree Negligent Driving (RCW 46.61.525)"... the fine for driving 21-25 m.p.h. over limit should be $206.00. I admit I was driving too fast but I was just going straight on the HOV lane. Its not like i was changing lane like crazy or anything.

My question is...will I be able to get the ticket deferred ? If not, will you think the judge will lower the ticket price, if I do a mitigation hearing? ANY helpful advice would be much appreciated!!

Sorry I don't know if this will be much of help but if their system is like ours and you dispute the ticket and the cop doesn't show up, you win, if the cop does show up, the cop will cut a deal with you and tell you to plead guilty so that you don't waste their time in court

Cars do pull over on the left shoulder next to the HOV lane in Washington. You should dispute your ticket.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsiADQyNnmY

this is wut im tryin to find out too...if the cop doesnt show up...do i just win like that? Thx for replying :)

thx for the help~ i think the cop was just being an a$$.... i was driving at 95 in a 70 zone...he gave me a $550 fine for "Second Degree Negligent Driving (RCW 46.61.525)" and told me its illegal to pull to the left...so another $1,064 (Failure to yield the right of way on approach of emergency vehicle (RCW 46.61.210)) and the way he talked was just rude....:mad::mad:
thx again tho~

When I was pulled for speeding in the HOV in Seattle, the cop directed me to pull over on the left as well.

i c... thx a lot for the info!;)
i guess i really should dispute it then...

Dispute the ticket for pulling over to the wrong side, not the speeding since you WERE speeding.

I did this about 2 years ago. I went to court and got the pulling to the left of highway off.
on the ticket it said "Failed to pull to the RIGHT for emergency vehicles" he even capitalized the "right".
I told the judge that I was scared of changing 3 lanes to pull over to the right because I didn't want to take that long to pull over.
I got that part taken off :)

lol I even have a picture (cop pulled both me and the car tailgating me over)

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-...16260_6880.jpg

but the cop didnt give me a ticket for speeding... he fined me for ""Second Degree Negligent Driving (RCW 46.61.525)" which is $550 instead of driving 21-25 m.p.h. over speed limit which is $206.00...im still thinking if i should fight for that one too...
thx a lot for ur advise.:)

wow...im so glad to see this...thx a lot for ur info!!:haha:

lol...thx a lot man~

just wondering if anyone knows ...if the cop doesnt show up...then im free to go? thats how it works in canada right?
how long should i expect to wait to get on court?
thx a lot!

just out of curiosity, what if you don't pay the ticket? They only have the authority to suspend your driving license if you're having WA DL, right?

about 1 yr ago,i was driving on I5 around 3am on HOV and got pulled over for speeding as well. I pulled my vehicle to the left and the officer came down her vehicle and screaming at me " you would get over $1000 fine for this action"..

She wrote me a ticket for excessive speeding only and I thought what she said was ridiculous, but i guess its TRUE from your post.

Best luck to you for disputing the ticket !!! I would say go dispute it, since your fine is close to $2g.

*$550 seems a bit too much for your speed.. i was traveling 102 kph in 70 zone and my fine was just over $200 i believe

i was wondering about this too... anyone knows the answer? lol

haha...u were lucky she didnt write u a ticket for that... i still think its rediculous that i actually got a 1g fine just for that...:mad:
ya...i checked it online....speeding 20~25 m.p.h over the limit should b 206.00 fine...

seems like that cop was in a really bad mood that day lol....

anywayz...thx a lot for ur reply~~ :D

From what I've been told, you really don't want to have outstanding tickets in the States. After multiple offenses, I've heard of jail time and/or denial of entry to WA

This has been asked and answered countless of times, you are not the first person to be in this situation, do a search and you WILL find answers.

To be honest, and call me cynical, but imo the WA cop is banking on the possibility you won't fight it since it's too far. Stick it to the Man.

If it were $100-200 I'd suggest you suck it up. But we're talking $1500 here. That's highway robbery (pun intended).

wow... :cry:

ive been searching around n askin frds around too.
ppl just give me all different kind of answers... :rolleyes:
thx a lot anywayz:thumbsup:

This is exactly what I think too. Thats why I decided to fight for it!! lol
thx a lot ! :thumbsup:

Just an FYI. The cop does NOT have to show up in court to present his/her findings. If you dispute it YOU HAVE TO REQUEST THAT THE COP BE THERE. Its not like in BC.