Washington State Speeding in a School Zone

Speeding tickets can be costly; however, if you receive a ticket for speeding in a school zone, it can end up costing you even more. In addition to the court-imposed fine, you may also end up paying more in insurance premiums once your insurance company learns the traffic infraction was committed. If you are thinking you might contest your Washington State school zone speeding ticket, you should immediately contact us because there are deadlines involved that require your immediate action to contest, request to mitigate, or to pay for an infraction.  If you miss the deadline, the court will enter a judgment that you committed the offense and the fine may be sent to a collection agency.  The court may also notify the department of licensing that you failed to respond, which could result in the loss of your license.

In Washington State, the speed limits around a school are reduced in order to protect children. A school zone may be composed of roadways that are adjacent to the school as well as crosswalks and intersections in the school’s vicinity. The speed zone at a crosswalk is extended 300 feet in either direction of the marked crosswalk.

The fines for speeding in a school or playground zone in Washington State are higher than the fines for a normal speeding offense. A person who drives more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit is looking at serious fines, and the penalty cannot be reduced, waived, or suspended.

Fifty percent of the fines collected for school zone speeding offenses are put into the state treasurer’s school zone safety account. This money is used by the Washington traffic safety commission to fund safety improvements for school zones, student transportation, and school bus loading and unloading.

One of the biggest concerns most people have with a speeding ticket is the increase in insurance costs. A person with multiple moving violations may have more reason to be concerned, as the cost may skyrocket even more. If you are worried about insurance premium increases, it may be time to hire an attorney who deals with traffic violations every day.

The traffic defense lawyers at Callahan Law have devoted their practice to defending people charged with violations of the Washington State traffic laws. We understand the potential consequences that can come from a speeding in a school zone ticket and know how these consequences can possibly be lessened or avoided altogether.

Contact Callahan Law today to discuss your options.