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Lower Kittitas County District CourtInfractionsThe information contained here is intended to address frequently asked questions. It is not comprehensive and should not be construed as legal advice. Those in need of legal advice should consult an attorney. If you received a green copy of a ticket from a police officer, it is a non-criminal offense that cannot be punished by a jail sentence. You must however, respond within fifteen (15) days from the date issued. A mailed response must be mailed not later than midnight on the day the response is due. How do I respond to a notice of infraction?To respond, you must check one of the boxes on the green copy you received and return the form to the court listed on the front. View the options listed on the back of your notice of infraction Payment by mail must be by check or money order (do not send cash) and must have the defendant's full name and citation number on the face of the check or money order. Checks or money orders must be made payable to the Lower Kittitas County District Court. What happens if I do not respond to a notice of infraction or if I fail to appear for a scheduled infraction hearing?If your failure to respond or appear is for traffic infraction, this will happen:
If your failure to respond or appear is for a non-traffic infraction, this will happen:
May I pay by telephone with a credit card?Yes, you may use your credit card to pay a penalty by telephone. To make a payment by telephone, call (800) 701-8560. You will need to have your complete case number including the issuing agency (the three letters following the number) and the dollar amount owing. May I pay online with a credit card?Yes, you may use your credit card to make a payment online at http://www.lowerkittitastix.com May I have a time payment agreement?This depends on whether the status of your case still qualifies for a time payment agreement. You may find this out by calling our office at 509 962-7511. If your case qualifies for time payments, upon your request the clerk will either mail you a time payment agreement or will allow you to print your own by clicking on the attached link. If you print your own, the clerk will need to give you a set-up deadline and the balance owing to write on your application prior to submission. The court uses Signal Credit to monitor your time payment agreement and Signal Credit is where you will be mailing your request and payments. Please read the time payment agreement application carefully prior to submission. Your submission will be rejected by Signal Credit if;
Signal Time Payment Application How can I keep a traffic infraction off my driving record?A traffic infraction can be kept off of your Department of Licensing driving record if the court allows a deferred finding. The Lower Kittitas County District Court does, in appropriate cases, defer findings in traffic infraction cases. If you would like the court to consider a deferred finding in your case, you may make your request at the time of your hearing or complete a form to request a deferred finding by mail The essential features of the deferred findings program in the Lower District Court are as follows:
May I have a hearing by mail?Yes, you may have a mitigation or contested hearing by mail. At the time you request a mitigation or contested hearing and up until 7 days PRIOR to the scheduled hearing date, you have the option of a mitigation or contested hearing by mail. If you decided to proceed with a hearing by mail, you will not be required to appear in court although you will receive a hearing notice. The court must receive your written statements at least 7 days PRIOR to the scheduled hearing date.
The court will review your statement and reports submitted by the citing officer and render a decision. That decision will be mailed to you. In the case of a mitigation hearing, the infraction is found committed, a monetary penalty will be determined, and if you have committed a traffic infraction, the finding will be reported to the Department of Licensing. In the case of a contested hearing, if the court finds that the infraction has been committed it will impose a monetary penalty and, if you have committed a traffic infraction, the finding will be reported to the Department of Licensing. The penalty will be based on the facts of the case and your driving record. You must agree to pay the court-ordered penalty within the specified time ordered by the judge. You will be notified by mail of the judge's decision. There is NO right to appeal the judge's decision. If the court does not receive your statement and you fail to appear for the hearing, the infraction will automatically be found committed and (for a traffic infraction) a $52 default penalty will be added. Your failure to appear or pay the fine and assessed penalty will be reported to the Department of Licensing (DOL), and your license may be suspended by the Department of Licensing. In addition, your unpaid fine and penalty will be sent to a collection agency where you will also be charged collection fees. May I have an electronic hearing or email hearing?Yes, you may have a mitigation or contested hearing by email. At the time you request a mitigation or contested hearing and up until 7 days PRIOR to the scheduled hearing date, you have the option of a mitigation or contested hearing by email. If you decided to proceed with a hearing by email, you will not be required to appear in court although you will receive a hearing notice. The court will review your statement and reports submitted by the citing officer and render a decision. That decision will be emailed to you. In the case of a mitigation hearing, the infraction is found committed, a monetary penalty will be determined, and if you have committed a traffic infraction, the finding will be reported to the Department of Licensing. In the case of a contested hearing, if the court finds that the infraction has been committed it will impose a monetary penalty and, if you have committed a traffic infraction, the finding will be reported to the Department of Licensing. The penalty will be based on the facts of the case and your driving record. You must agree to pay the court-ordered penalty within the specified time ordered by the judge. You will be notified by email of the judge's decision. There is NO right to appeal the judge's decision. If the court does not receive your statement and you fail to appear for the hearing, the infraction will automatically be found committed and (for a traffic infraction) a $52 default penalty will be added. Your failure to appear or pay the fine and assessed penalty will be reported to the Department of Licensing (DOL), and your license may be suspended by the Department of Licensing. In addition, your unpaid fine and penalty will be sent to a collection agency where you will also be charged collection fees. May I still have a hearing if I failed to respond within 15 days or if I failed to appear at a scheduled hearing?Usually, the answer to this question is "no." In most cases, if you failed to respond to a notice of infraction within 15 days or you failed to appear at a scheduled hearing, your only option is to pay the penalty imposed by the court. However, there are occasionally reasons compelling enough for the court to excuse your failure to respond to a notice of infraction or appear for a hearing. If you did not respond to a notice of infraction within 15 days, or you did respond but did not appear for your court hearing, you may ask the court to set aside its "committed" judgment for good cause and set your case for a hearing. To ask the court to set aside the judgment in your case, you must use the court's form captioned Request to Vacate Infraction Judgment & Set Case for Hearing Forms to Download |
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. You will need to have your complete case number including the issuing agency (the three letters following the number) and the dollar amount owing.
