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Apr
25

Photo enforced tickets - District Court

Washington state law allows for photo enforcement violations to be processed like parking tickets and filed against the vehicle’s registered owner. A photo enforcement conviction will not appear on your driving record, but failure to respond to the ticket may affect renewal of your license plate, and the Court will send your case to collections.

King County District Court handles photo enforcement tickets for:

  • Auburn
  • Bellevue
  • Kenmore
  • Issaquah School District
  • Renton School District

Respond to your photo enforcement ticket

Before you respond to a photo enforcement ticket, it is helpful to review the photographs and video of the alleged violation. You will need to enter the ticket number and PIN number in the spaces indicated on the webpage.

You can respond to a photo enforcement ticket in 1 of these ways:

  • Pay the ticket
  • Set up a payment plan
  • Request a mitigation hearing
  • Request a contested hearing
  • Submit a declaration of non-responsibility

Pay ticket

You can pay your ticket in 1 of the following ways.

Online

Register for a free e-filing portal account

Log in to the District Court e-filing portal

Telephone

Call 844-399-5259 to pay over the phone. 

Mail

We do not accept cash.

  • Enclose a check or money order, payable to King County District Court, for the dollar amount listed on the front of the ticket (do not mail cash)
    • Include the infraction number on your payment
    • NSF (bounced) checks will be treated as a failure to respond (FTA) to the ticket
  • Mail your payment to: King County District Court, 516 Third Avenue, Room E-340, Seattle, WA 98104.
  • For cases assigned to collections, call Professional Credit at 866-320-6527

In-person

At any King County District Court courthouse location, Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Set up a payment plan

PMT Solutions handles these payment plans. They do not have information about your fines or fines at first. Your payment plan account is set up after PMT Solutions receives your application and initial payment.

How to apply:

  • Complete the PMT Solutions, LLC, Time Payment Application
  • Mail the completed application, $15 setup fee, and your first monthly payment to PMT Solutions at the address on the application form.
    • These items must be received by your due date. If you do not fill out the application fully or attach payments, it may be declined. Your account could then become eligible for collections.

Benefits of following the plan

  • Creates a realistic monthly payment
  • Making regular payments will not affect your credit rating
  • More time to pay your fine or fines to avoid your account going to collections.
  • Pay more than your minimum monthly payment or in full to cut down monthly fees.
  • Receive a monthly statement with a return envelope to mail your payments.

Penalties if you do not follow the plan

  • If you cannot keep up with payments, your account becomes default.
    • A collection agency gets the account and you are responsible for collection fees.
    • We are notified and you may have more monetary penalties added.
    • If this is for a traffic violation, the Washington State Department of Licensing may remove your privilege to drive.

Mitigation hearing

A mitigation hearing provides you the opportunity to explain the circumstances of the infraction. In some cases, the Court may allow time payments or a reduction of the penalty.

You can choose 1 of the following options:

  1. Have a hearing with a judge in person at the courthouse or via Zoom.
  2. Explain your circumstances in writing by completing a Defendant's Statement form
    • Your sworn written statement must be received by the Court at least 7 days prior to your scheduled hearing.

Request a mitigation hearing online

Choose 1 of the following ways.

Online infraction response tool

  • You will not meet with a judge, but you will explain your circumstances in writing using the response tool.
  • The Court will mail you its decision on the infraction.

By mail or visiting a District Court location

Your mailed response must be mailed no later than midnight on the day the response is due, or you can submit it in person by the due date.

  • Check the box on the back of the ticket indicating you agree you committed the violation(s) and are requesting a mitigation hearing.
    • You have the option to either:
      • Have a hearing with a judge in person at the courthouse or via Zoom.
      • Explain your circumstances in writing by completing a Defendant's Statement form.
  • If you request to meet with a judge, the Court will send you notice of your court date; otherwise the Court will mail you its decision on the infraction.

Contested hearing

A contested hearing provides you the opportunity to contest (challenge) any or all the violation(s) listed on the ticket.

You can choose 1 of the following options:

  1. Have a hearing with a judge in person at the courthouse or via Zoom.
  2. Explain your circumstances in writing by completing a Defendant's Statement form
    • Your sworn written statement must be received by the Court at least 7 days prior to your scheduled hearing.

Request a contested hearing

Choose 1 of the following ways.

Online infraction response tool

  • Search for your case number, navigate to the case, and click on "WebHearing" on the Summary page to submit your response
  • The online form will guide you through how to enter your response to the citation.
  • At the end of the form, you will submit it to the Court and a copy will be emailed to you.
  • For help, refer to: Respond to ticket online (mitigate, contest)
  • You will not meet with a judge, but you will explain your circumstances in writing using the response tool.
  • The Court will mail you its decision on the infraction.

By mail or visiting a District Court location

Your mailed response must be mailed no later than midnight on the day the response is due, or you can submit it in person by the due date.

  • Check the box on the back of the ticket indicating you are requesting a contested hearing.
    • You have the option to either:
      • Have a hearing with a judge in person at the courthouse or via Zoom.
      • Explain your circumstances in writing by completing a Defendant's Statement form.
  • If you request to meet with a judge, the Court will send you notice of your court date; otherwise the Court will mail you its decision on the infraction.

In a contested hearing, the city/state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that you committed the violation(s). You can request witnesses to appear at the hearing. Contact the Court to find out how to request a subpoena for a witness to appear at the hearing.

Declaration of non-responsibility

If your car was stolen, sold, or in the care of another person when the photo enforcement infraction occurred, you may file a Declaration of Non-Responsibility with the Court.

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