When you’re driving to and from school, work, or everyday errands, it can be easy to forget how hard you’re pressing your foot down onto the gas pedal. You could be listening to music and thinking about how long it will take you to get to your destination when you suddenly realize you’re driving 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. As you realize this, so does a police officer. You get pulled over, and as the red and blue lights of the cop’s car flash in your rearview mirror, you ask yourself, “how am I going to get out of this?”
At Emerald City Law Group, we know how to beat speeding tickets. If you were pulled over by law enforcement for going over the speed limit and are now facing fines and heightened auto insurance payments, call one of our Seattle traffic attorneys today at 206-973-0407 to schedule a free, initial case consultation.
Speeding Laws in Washington
No matter where you travel in Washington, there are a set of rules and regulations for how fast you are permitted to drive on city and town streets, state highways, and country roads. Per the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.400(2), the baseline speed limits in the state are:
- City and town streets – 25 mph
- Country roads – 50 mph
- State highways – 60 mph
While a lot of tickets are written and given out for speeding, you can also get ticketed for driving too slowly. RCW 46.61.425 states that you cannot drive a vehicle at such a slow speed that it begins to impede upon normal traffic. Such slow speeds are only permitted when they are necessary for safety of other drivers and pedestrians.
Penalties for Speeding in Washington
If you’ve received a ticket for driving too far over or under a speed limit, you face a number of consequences, including fines, higher insurance rates, and a driver’s license suspension. There’s no denying that it is difficult to get around without being able to drive yourself places, so if you find yourself facing any of these consequences, it’s important to retain the help of a Seattle traffic attorney who knows how to beat speeding tickets. At Emerald City Law Group, we have experience helping clients retain their licenses and avoid hefty fees. Call us today to learn more about how we can help.
Understanding LIDAR Technology
When police pull you over for going above or below the speed limit in a way that impedes traffic or endangers the safety of others, they catch you in a number of ways. One such way is through a laser gun that clocks your vehicle’s speed. This laser gun, also referred to as LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), is extremely accurate and can determine how fast you were driving to a 10th of the miles per hour.
A LIDAR gun will produce an invisible beam of infrared light that will then be used to calculate how fast you are driving. Some LIDAR devices do have the capability to take photographs of you and your vehicle, so it is vitally important to contact a speeding ticket lawyer in Seattle if you find yourself with a ticket after being caught speeding by this technology.
How We Beat Speeding Tickets
When we meet people out in the real world who have heard we know how to beat speeding tickets, we always get asked how we do it. The problem with answering that question is there are hundreds of ways to beat a speeding ticket. The other problem is that to explain just one way we win can take 20 minutes and become quite boring.
The bad thing about getting busted with LIDAR is that it is very accurate, and its speed reading are hard to overcome. The good thing about getting busted with LIDAR is that it is scientific, so the police will have to do some very specific calculations, or the judge won’t allow their speed reading to stand.
Speeding tickets can be a hassle. After being caught by the police driving faster than the posted limit, you likely want to pay the fee and be done with the situation. While this solution seems like the easiest option, it’s important to avoid it, as simply paying the fee is the same as pleading guilty. Instead of accepting the ticket and paying the full fine, you should contact a Seattle traffic attorney from Emerald City Law Group.
Our lawyers can help you avoid the harsh penalties of a speeding ticket by recommending the following:
- Mitigation hearing – During this proceeding, you agree that you committed the speeding violation, but you argue that you had reasons for doing so. Based on those reasons, you do not deserve to pay the fine. Our attorneys may suggest taking this route if there is strong evidence against you, but you want to fight the penalties you are facing.
- Contested hearing – This type of hearing gives you the opportunity to make the prosecution prove that you did indeed speed and deserve the ticket a police officer gave you. In this situation, the prosecution must prove you committed the offense by a preponderance of the evidence. During a contested hearing, you will not admit that you did anything wrong. You and your attorney will spend this time formulating your own argument that you did not commit the speeding offense for which you are being accused.
After you receive a speeding ticket, you only have a limited amount of time to respond to it, so it is important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. At Emerald City Law Group, we have experience helping clients beat speeding tickets, and we’re prepared to help you through the legal process surrounding a speeding offense.
Call our Seattle Traffic Attorneys Today
If you were caught speeding in Seattle and are facing hefty fines as a result, you need an experienced traffic lawyer to guide you through the potential court process. Don’t just pay your fine and accept guilt. Call the attorneys at Emerald City Law Group for help. We will explain your rights and legal options, such as a mitigation hearing or contested hearing, and we will keep you informed of your rights every step of the way.
To learn more about how to beat speeding tickets and other traffic offenses, contact us today at 206-973-0407.
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