- Include the infraction number on your payment
- NSF (bounced) checks will be treated as a failure to respond (FTA) to the ticket
In-person
At any King County District Court courthouse location, Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Text message notifications
If you would like to receive text message reminder notices for your court dates, fill out the SMS Opt In form and mail to the courthouse location listed on your notice of hearing.
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.
- Complete the PMT Solutions, LLC, Time Payment Application
- Printed copies of the application form also are available from any King County District Court location.
- 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:
- 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 (317KB)
- 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
- Register for a free e-filing portal account
- How to register for a portal account
- Log in to the District Court e-filing portal
- 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.
- Refer to: Respond to ticket online (mitigation statement, contested statement, deferred finding request)
- 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 (317KB).
- Mail your response to the courthouse location listed on the front of the ticket or file it with the clerks at any King County District Court courthouse location
- 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:
- 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 (317KB)
- 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
- Register for a free e-filing portal account
- How to register for a portal account
- 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.
- Refer to: Respond to ticket online (mitigate, contest, deferred finding)
- 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 (317KB).
- Mail your response to the courthouse location listed on the front of the ticket or file it with the clerks at any King County District Court courthouse location
- 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, including the officer who issued the ticket. Contact the Court to find out how to request a subpoena for a witness to appear at the hearing.
Appeal a Contested Infraction decision
Follow these steps within 30 days of the Court’s judgment:
- Prepare a written Notice of Appeal and Superior Court Case Assignment Designation and Case Information Cover Sheet. File these forms with District Court.
- Include a cashier’s check or money order for $230 Superior Court filing fee made payable to Clerk of Superior Court with your Notice of Appeal.
- Within 14 days of filing your Notice of Appeal, you must file with District Court a Designation of Record to be Transmitted to Superior Court. Within 14 days after receiving this form, District Court will prepare the record and notify each party that the record is ready to transmit. District Court charges a $40 fee for preparing the record. It is your (the appellant) responsibility to have the tape or CD accurately transcribed.
Request relief from the Court
If you failed to request a hearing, pay a ticket, or appear in court timely, you may submit a Request for Relief from Judgment or Order to the Court. The request must be in writing, signed under penalty of perjury, and clearly set for the reasons for the relief you request. A judge will review your request. The Court will notify you in writing of what relief, if any, is granted. Learn more by reviewing the local infraction rule (LIRLJ 6.7 (a)) and the Request for Relief from Judgment or Order.
Deferred findings
The law allows a judge to defer (postpone) the reporting of a traffic violation to the Department of Licensing (DOL) upon certain conditions. The judge may defer the ticket for up to 12 months on conditions deemed appropriate.
- You may only receive a deferred finding once every 7 years for a moving violation, and once every 7 years for a non-moving violation.
- You are not eligible for a deferred finding if you hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
If you fail to comply with the conditions of the deferred finding, the Court will revoke the deferral. You will then be required to pay the original fine on the ticket, plus any unpaid court costs. The Court will report the violation to the DOL.
- You have the option to either:
- You have the option to either: