OMG: Cell phone citations up for refund
By ADAM STEWART Staff Reporter
Drivers caught using a cell phone may get money back.
Drivers caught texting or chatting on a cell phone before July 1 may be eligible for a refund on their citation.
Washington state’s Department of Licensing (DOL) announced “that it stands ready to reimburse local governments for fiscal impacts related to an oversight in updating a state traffic offense rule book.”
An estimated 10,000 traffic citations since 2007, issued by jurisdictions that have adopted the model traffic ordinance (MTO), are subject to scrutiny.
The MTO gives city police officers the authority to enforce state traffic laws.
Citations include cell phone law violations between June 2008 and July 1, 2010.
In total, 17 laws created by the state legislature since 2004 were not properly updated in the MTO.
A full list of citations being refunded can be found at the agency’s Web site, www.dol.wa.gov.
According to DOL, because circumstances and local ordinances in each city and county vary, each jurisdiction will develop their own process for identifying invalid citations and issuing refunds when appropriate.
DOL estimates that reimbursements could total up to $1.3 million statewide.
The issue does not affect citations given out by the state patrol, other state police agencies, Seattle police and some county sheriff’s departments, including Snohomish County.
A list of unaffected agencies is being updated daily on the DOL Web site.
Drivers who received a cell-phone related citation prior to July 1 should contact the court that it was issued out of. The court is listed on the citation.
The MTO has been properly updated to include new cell phone and texting laws. All citations issued after the first of the month are valid.
Staff Reporter Adam
Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115
or astewart@scnews.com.
