Below is a list of instructions and resources for how to manage your traffic infraction. Before calling the court, please read the entire front and back of your infraction for instructions.
Ticket Options
You must respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) of the date of the infraction by doing one of the following:
- Pay the fine in full.
- Set up a payment plan.
- Submit a request for a contested or mitigation hearing. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, fax, or in person.
- Contested Hearing: Challenge the infraction.
- Mitigation Hearing: Explain the circumstances and/or request a reduction in fine.
- The following infractions cannot be mitigated:
- Speeding in a school/construction/emergency zone
- Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Submit a Written Hearing. Complete the Written Statement for Infractions form (PDF) and return it to the court with any supporting documents. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, or fax. The Judge will review your statement and make a ruling. Please note that if the court enters a committed finding it cannot be appealed. The court accepts the following file formats: .pdf, .tif, .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg.
Some charges may be eligible for reductions (PDF).
Failure to respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) may result in your penalty being increased; a committed finding being reported to Department of Licensing (DOL); failure to pay or failure to enter into a payment plan may result in a referral of your case to a collection agency, including garnishment of your wages; AND if it is a traffic ticket you may lose your driver’s license/privilege; if it is parking/photo DOL may refuse to renew your vehicle registration until any imposed penalties are satisfied.
If you want the City’s evidence, you must submit an Infraction Discovery Request (PDF) no later than 14 days before the hearing.
If you want the officer present at a contested hearing, you must submit an Infraction Officer Subpoena Request (PDF) no later than 7 days before the hearing. Officer hearings are held at 10:30am and are in person.
You can get additional information on School Zones and Speed measuring device (SMD) certificates of calibration.
(Note: If you arrive less than 30 minutes late to court you will be seen after those who arrived on time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late you will not be seen and will need to reschedule.)
Deferred Finding
A deferred finding is a way to potentially keep a traffic infraction from becoming part of your driving record. Deferred findings are available once every seven years for Washington residents.
If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the violation you are not eligible. If you are eligible, you must comply with the following to have the violation dismissed:
- Pay the original fine as agreed.
- Have no moving or similar violations for six months from the date of entry of the deferred finding.
Deferred finding application (PDF)
Photo Tickets
The Municipal Court services photo tickets for Lakewood and DuPont. Make sure that you are following the correct steps for the city where you received your ticket.
Types of Photo Tickets:
- Red Light Violation (Notice begins with LRL):
- These can be contested or mitigated. The City Council has reduced the photo-enforced fine to $101 compared to $145 if stopped by an officer.
- Speeding in School Zone (Notice begins with LFS):
- These can only be contested. If found committed the court may not waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty for school zone infractions by statute. Please note the fine has already been reduced below the usual fine. For example, if an officer stopped you for speeding in a school zone the normal fine would be:
- $223 for 1-5 mph over
- $243 for 6-10 mph over
- $305 for 11-15 mph over
- $387 for 16-20 mph over
- $489 for 21-25 mph over
- $592 for 26-30 mph over
- $694 for 31-35 mph over
- $817 for 36+ mph over
- These can only be contested. If found committed the court may not waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty for school zone infractions by statute. Please note the fine has already been reduced below the usual fine. For example, if an officer stopped you for speeding in a school zone the normal fine would be:
Photo Ticket Issuing:
Photo infractions are issued to the first listed owner on the vehicle registration. Liability cannot be transferred from one party to another, except rental agencies. Photo infractions do not go on your driving record.
You can view the video of your infraction online (city code=LAKEWD).
You must respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) of the date of the infraction by doing one of the following:
- Pay the fine in full or set up a payment plan
- An owner may overcome the presumption of liability by completing a Declaration of Non-Responsibility (PDF). if one of the following applies:
- Personal vehicles:
- The first listed registered owner was not the driver at the time of the infraction.
- The vehicle was stolen or sold prior to the date of the infraction.
- Non-rental business vehicles:
- The vehicle was in the care or custody of someone who is not an employee of the business.
- The vehicle was stolen or sold prior to the date of the infraction.
- Rental car business:
- Nominations of the responsible party must be submitted within 18 days to: Photo Enforcement, 9401 Lakewood DR. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
- Personal vehicles:
- Submit a request for a contested or mitigation hearing. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, fax, in person, or calling the court (253-512-2258). These hearings are in person.
- Contested Hearing: Challenge the infraction. School Zones can only be contested.
- Mitigation Hearing: Explain the circumstances and/or request a reduction in fine. School Zones cannot be mitigated.
- If you want the City’s evidence, you must submit an Infraction Discovery Request (PDF) no later than 14 days before the hearing.
- If you arrive less than 30 minutes late to court you will be seen after those who arrived on time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late you will not be seen and will need to reschedule.
- Submit a Written Hearing. Complete the Written Statement for Infractions form (PDF) and return it to the court with any supporting documents. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, or fax. The Judge will review your statement and make a ruling. Please note that if the court enters a committed finding it cannot be appealed. The court accepts the following file formats: .pdf, .tif, .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg.
Failure to respond within 33 days may result in your penalty being increased with a committed finding being entered; Failure to pay or failure to enter into a payment plan may result in a referral of your case to a collection agency, including garnishment of your wages; AND DOL may refuse to renew your vehicle registration until any imposed
Questions or comments about the photo enforcement program can be directed to the City of Dupont.
To view, pay, or respond to the ticket go to https://zerofatality.com/ using the license plate & password printed on your infraction.
Types of Photo Tickets:
- Red Light Violation (Notice begins with DPR):
- These can be contested or mitigated.
- Camera Certifications
- Speeding in School Zone (Notice begins with DPZ):
- These can only be contested.
- If found committed the court may not waive, reduce, or suspend the penalty for school zone infractions by statute.
- Camera Certifications
Photo Ticket Issuing:
Photo infractions are issued to the first listed owner on the vehicle registration. Liability cannot be transferred from one party to another, except rental agencies. Photo infractions do not go on your driving record.
You can view the video of your infraction online
You must respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) of the date of the infraction by doing one of the following:
- Pay the fine in full or set up a payment plan
- An owner may overcome the presumption of liability by completing a Declaration of Non-Responsibility (PDF). if one of the following applies:
- Personal vehicles:
- The first listed registered owner was not the driver at the time of the infraction.
- The vehicle was stolen or sold prior to the date of the infraction.
- Non-rental business vehicles:
- The vehicle was in the care or custody of someone who is not an employee of the business.
- The vehicle was stolen or sold prior to the date of the infraction.
- Rental car business:
- Nominations of the responsible party must be submitted within 18 days to: Photo Enforcement, 9401 Lakewood DR. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
- Personal vehicles:
- Submit a request for a contested or mitigation hearing. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, fax, in person, or calling the court (253-512-2258). These hearings are in person.
- Contested Hearing: Challenge the infraction. School Zones can only be contested.
- Mitigation Hearing: Explain the circumstances and/or request a reduction in fine. School Zones cannot be mitigated.
- If you want the City’s evidence, you must submit an Infraction Discovery Request (PDF) no later than 14 days before the hearing.
- If you arrive less than 30 minutes late to court you will be seen after those who arrived on time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late you will not be seen and will need to reschedule.
- Submit a Written Hearing. Complete the Written Statement for Infractions form (PDF) and return it to the court with any supporting documents. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, or fax. The Judge will review your statement and make a ruling. Please note that if the court enters a committed finding it cannot be appealed. The court accepts the following file formats: .pdf, .tif, .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg.
Failure to respond within 33 days may result in your penalty being increased with a committed finding being entered; Failure to pay or failure to enter into a payment plan may result in a referral of your case to a collection agency, including garnishment of your wages; AND DOL may refuse to renew your vehicle registration until a
Animal and Code Infractions
If you received a ticket for violating a municipal code, you have been charged with an infraction. Before calling the court, please read the entire front and back of your infraction for instructions.
You must respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) of the date of the infraction by doing one of the following:
- Pay the fine in full.
- Set up a payment plan.
- Submit a request for a contested or mitigation hearing. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, fax, or in person. These hearings are in person.
- Contested Hearing: Challenge the infraction.
- Mitigation Hearing: Explain the circumstances and/or request a reduction in fine.
- If you arrive less than 30 minutes late to court you will be seen after those who arrived on time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late you will not be seen and will need to reschedule.)
- Submit a Written Hearing. Complete the Written Statement for Infractions form (PDF) and return it to the court with any supporting documents. This can be done by emailing [email protected], mail, or fax. The Judge will review your statement and make a ruling. Please note that if the court enters a committed finding it cannot be appealed. The court accepts the following file formats: .pdf, .tif, .tiff, .jpeg, .jpg.
Failure to respond within 30 days (33 days if mailed to you) may result in your penalty being increased; a committed finding being reported; failure to pay or failure to enter into a payment plan may result in a referral of your case to a collection agency, including garnishment of your wages.
If you want the City’s evidence, you must submit an Infraction Discovery Request (PDF) no later than 14 days before the hearing.
If you want the officer present at a contested hearing, you must submit an Infraction Officer Subpoena Request (PDF) no later than 7 days before the hearing.
(Note: If you arrive less than 30 minutes late to court you will be seen after those who arrived on time. If you arrive more than 30 minutes late you will not be seen and will need to reschedule.)