Legal Question in Traffic Law in Washington

Re: Can the police set up speed traps in private property?

You should review the speed trap statute, RCW 46.61.470. The definition of a speed trap does not include a radar-wielding officer hidden from view. Permissible speed traps must be on public highways - the officer is not required to also be on a public highway.

Typically . . . actually, in every case, the purpose of a mitigation hearing (explaining circumstances rather than contesting the citation) is to seek some leniency from the court. If the officer cited you for 5mph hours when you were admittedly traveling 10mph over, you cannot help yourself by raising the inconsistency, unless it is your desire to be generous with your contribution to the state's coffer. For the same reason, you should refrain from discussing tailgating.

The court will only make a finding on the violation charged. The court will not likely find that you were traveling faster than the speed cited on the face of the ticket, even if the officer wrote a higher speed in his report.

If by chance the officer claims that he recorded your speed by observing your vehicle travel through a particular stretch of road (i.e. speed trap) you should consider changing your request from a mitigation hearing to a contested hearing.

You may also want to consider asking the court about an order deferring findings - this is a procedure whereby your case is continued for up to 1 year and, if you refrain from incurring new violations, is dismissed. This type of disposition can only be used once each 7 years for moving violations (and 1 per 7 yrs. for non moving violations.