Some traffic tickets in Seattle are no longer valid because the time for collecting the penalty on them has expired. Nearly 100,000 automatic (camera) traffic tickets issued in Seattle for school zone and at red light violations were never reviewed by the Seattle Police Department. The Seattle Police Department blames staffing shortages for its inability to review each ticket dating all the way back to 2021. The money left on the proverbial table took approximately a $4.3 million bite out of the city’s School Safety Traffic and Pedestrian Improvement Fund last year. The loss will hit several programs as well as some intended improvements in and around Seattle. Automated (camera) traffic enforcement had found favor in Washington as police staffing was depressed and there were concerns about deadly interactions during routine traffic stops. The Legislature took measures to expand local authority to install cameras in and around school zones, hospitals, parks and deadly stretches of roadway. In line with this, the Seattle City Council voted to install speed cameras in areas where drag racing is common. However, staffing proved to be a bottleneck for collecting alleged violations. Hence, tickets were not issued, and revenue was lost. That is bad for the city of Seattle, but great for those who violated the law but were not caught.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a ticket, immediately contact a Seattle Traffic Attorney. A Traffic lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Traffic Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their traffic charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a ticket, a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Traffic Lawyer as soon as possible. Traffic citations can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone cited or charged with a traffic violation in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Traffic Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.
