Beating The Seattle School Zone Camera Ticket

If you've received a school zone camera ticket in Seattle, it's important to know your options for responding. These tickets are issued when a camera captures a vehicle speeding in a school zone, with a speed limit of 20 mph near elementary and middle schools. While these tickets are treated like parking infractions and don't affect your driving record or insurance, they can result in a financial penalty. To resolve your ticket, you have a few choices: pay the fine, request a hearing, or submit a declaration of non-responsibility if you weren't the driver. If you choose to pay, you can do so online, by mail, or in person. Requesting a hearing gives you the chance to explain your circumstances to a judge, who may reduce or waive the penalty. Alternatively, if you weren't driving the vehicle, you can submit a sworn statement to that effect, which could result in your ticket being cancelled.

Camera tickets are treated like parking tickets

Camera tickets are only issued in two situations: speeding in school zones and failure to stop at a traffic light. In Seattle, there is a 20 mph speed limit near elementary and middle schools. Speed cameras are in use when the lights are flashing on either end of the school zone. The Seattle Department of Transportation sets the schedule for the flashing beacons based on when students will be arriving and leaving school grounds.

If you receive a camera ticket, you can view the pictures and video of the alleged violation online using the citation number and PIN provided on the Notice of Infraction that was mailed to you. You can also view the images and video in person at the Seattle Public Library or the Seattle Municipal Court lobby.

To pay a camera ticket, you have three options: pay by check or money order, pay online, or pay in person at the Court Payment Office. If you want to contest a ticket, you can request a mitigation hearing or a contested hearing using the coupon enclosed with your ticket. You can also submit a declaration of non-responsibility if you were not the driver of the vehicle at the time of the violation.

Tickets are only issued when beacons are flashing

In Seattle, there is a 20 mph speed limit near elementary and middle schools. Speed cameras are in use when the lights are flashing on either end of the school zone. The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) sets the schedule for the beacons based on when students will be arriving and leaving school grounds.

The speed cameras operate using digital signal processing and in-ground point-to-point loop detectors to make multiple measurements of a vehicle as it passes through the school speed zone. The vehicle's speed is calculated based on the time it takes to travel between the loop detectors. The cameras are connected to the school zone beacons and will only capture images of vehicles and their license plates when the beacons are flashing. If the beacons are not flashing, drivers will not be issued citations.

There are over 70 sets of school zone flashing beacons located across the city, which are mounted along with 20 mph school speed zone signs. The beacons flash in an alternating mode, with a very small pause between each light flash. This means that a still picture taken by the speed camera may capture the moment between each flash, making it appear that the beacons were not in use. For this reason, a video of the incident is also captured.

If you receive a ticket, you can view the images and video of your vehicle online at www.ViolationInfo.com. You will need the Notice # and PIN printed on the front of the notice to log in. If you do not have access to a computer, you can visit any Seattle Public Library branch or the Municipal Court to view the evidence.

Tickets are filed with the Seattle Municipal Court

If you receive a school zone camera ticket in Seattle, it will be filed with the Seattle Municipal Court. These tickets are processed like parking tickets and will not appear on your state driving record. However, if you do not pay your ticket, the DOL may place a hold on your vehicle registration.

You can view pictures and videos of the alleged camera violation online at www.violationinfo.com using the citation number and PIN provided on the Notice of Infraction that was mailed to you. If you do not have access to a computer, you can also view this evidence in person at the Seattle Public Library, the Seattle Municipal Court lobby, or the Records Unit in Room 335 on the third floor.

If this is your first camera ticket, or if it occurred within 21 days of your first ticket, and you are currently receiving financial assistance from the state of Washington under RCW Title 74 or the WIC program, you may be eligible for a 50% reduction in the ticket amount. To qualify, you must be the registered owner of the cited vehicle and admit that you committed the infraction. You can file your request through the court's internet portal. If your request is approved, the court will notify you of the new amount and the due date; you will not be able to request a hearing. If your request is denied, the court will notify you of your hearing and payment options, along with a new due date.

If you were not driving the vehicle when the alleged violation occurred, you can file a Declaration of Non-Responsibility online or by mail, email, or fax. This is a sworn statement under penalty of perjury that the vehicle was not in your care, custody, or control at the time of the violation. Companies, organizations, and employers cannot file a declaration of non-responsibility; a vehicle driven by an employee is considered to be in the "care, custody, and control" of the registered owner or employer.

You can view alleged violations online

If you have received a school zone camera ticket in Seattle, you can view the alleged violation online. To do this, you will need the citation number and PIN provided on the Notice of Infraction that was mailed to you. You can then visit www.violationinfo.com to log in and access the images and video of your vehicle.

If you do not have access to a computer, you can view the violation photos and videos at any Seattle Public Library branch or at the Municipal Court (600 Fifth Avenue). Public computers are also available in the Seattle Municipal Court lobby and the Records Unit, Room 335 (third floor).

It is important to note that the speed cameras in Seattle school zones only operate when the school zone flashing beacons are in operation. The flashing beacon schedule is determined by the Seattle Department of Transportation and is based on student arrival and departure times at the schools.

You can contest a ticket

If you want to contest a school zone camera ticket in Seattle, you have a few options. Firstly, you can request a mitigation hearing, where you will be deemed to have committed the infraction and can explain the circumstances to the court. The court may then decide to reduce or waive the penalty. Alternatively, you can request a contested hearing, where the city has the burden of proving that the infraction was committed. You may subpoena witnesses, including the officer who issued the notice of the infraction. If you were not driving the vehicle when the alleged violation occurred, you can file a Declaration of Non-Responsibility. This is a sworn statement under penalty of perjury that the vehicle was not in your care, custody, or control at the time of the violation. You can submit this declaration online, by mail, email, or fax. It's important to note that if you choose to contest the ticket, you may end up paying more than the original fine.

To contest a ticket, you can use the coupon enclosed with your ticket to request either a mitigation or contested hearing. You can also find your precinct's contact information online and give them a call to ensure availability before visiting in person. The address for the Seattle Municipal Court is 600 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104.

It's worth noting that camera tickets are legally equivalent to parking tickets and do not appear on your state driving record. They also do not get reported to insurance companies or the Washington Department of Licensing. Non-payment, however, can result in a collections action and a hold on registering your vehicle.

Frequently asked questions