The 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.

Criminal Citations

If you receive a Criminal Citation your appearance is MANDATORY.

Criminal Hearings are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Zoom hearings are available upon request for all cases except Driving Under The Influence (DUI) and Domestic Violence Assault.  Requests for a Zoom Hearing MUST be made 48 hours prior to your hearing date.  Examples of Criminal Citations are: Driving While License Suspended, Theft, DUI, and Assault.

If you receive a Criminal Citation (either a goldenrod half sheet or a white full sheet) from a police officer or in the mail you have been charged with a crime. Failure to appear will result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. A $100.00 warrant fee may be imposed.

Look for an appearance (arraignment) date in the mid-lower left-hand portion of the full white sheet or bottom left on the gold half sheet. If no date is written on the citation, the court will send you a summons to appear for a hearing in 2-3 weeks. The summons to appear will be mailed to the address on the face of the citation. It is your responsibility to contact the court if the address is incorrect or the summons is not received within 2-3 weeks. For additional information or questions please contact the court.

Infraction Information

If you receive an Infraction you MUST respond within 30 days from the date issued or 33 days from the date the notice is mailed. Infraction hearings are scheduled the second Tuesday of every other month from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.  Some examples of Infractions are: Speeding, No Insurance or Registration, Defective Equipment and Parking.

Zoom hearings are available upon request.  Requests for a Zoom Hearing MUST be made 48 hours prior to your hearing date.

You may respond to your infraction in several ways.  You can pay the ticket, set up payment arrangements, request an in person appearance for a mitigation or contested hearing or submit an electronic hearing form where the Judge will review your written statement in lieu of an appearance in court. Additionally, you may request a deferred finding by the use of a mitigation hearing either in person or electronically.

Failure to respond to your infraction within 30 days from the issue date or 33 days front the date the notice was mailed or failing to appear at your requested hearing may result in an automatic finding of committed, and possible referral to a collection agency.

Please use the tabs below for more information regarding infractions.

Pay the Ticket
Go to our Make a Payment page for payment options and instructions.

If you need additional time to pay your ticket you may setup a payment plan.  You will need to contact the court to setup a time pay agreement.
Mitigation, Contested & Electronic Hearings

Mitigation Hearing

You agree you have committed the infraction(s), but you want a hearing to explain the circumstances. 

To request a mitigation hearing be scheduled, please check the third box on your ticket labeled as "Mitigation Hearing" and send the marked ticket to the court.  Please note that your appearance is MANDATORY.

Contested Hearing

You contend that you did not commit the offense(s) and you want contest the ticket.

To request a contested hearing be scheduled, please check the fourth box on your ticket labeled as "Contested Hearing" and send the marked ticket to the court. Please note that your appearance is MANDATORY.

Electronic Hearing

The electronic hearing form allows you to request a mitigation hearing, contested hearing or a deferred finding without the need for you to appear in court. 

If you want the judge to decide the matter without your presence.  You may explain the situation to the judge with or without attached documents by using our electronic hearing form.

Deferred Finding
A deferred finding for a moving and non-moving violation may only be ordered once every seven years.  

A deferred finding stops the infraction from being reported to the Department of Licensing and upon successful completion of the deferral, the infraction is dismissed.  Deferral findings include an administration fee ($150 for Bonney Lake and $175 for Sumner) and a six month agreement to not commit further traffic violations.

You may request a deferred finding at your mitigation hearing or you may request a deferred finding without appearing for court by filling out and submitting our electronic hearing form.

A person who is the holder of a commercial driver's license or who was operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of the violation may not receive a deferral under this section. See RCW 46.63.070(5) for deferral information.
Judicial/Administrative Review re: Good Cause Form
If you have been advised by the Department of Licensing that you will be unable to renew your license, or if your license has been suspended because of an unpaid traffic infraction, you may contact the Bonney Lake Municipal Court.

Your case may be in collections.  If your case is in collections, the court may lift the FTA holds if the balance is paid in full with the collections agency or a payment plan is setup with the collections agency.  The collections agency will notify the court when they receive payment in full or a payment agreement.  You may contact the court to find out whether your case is in collections and which collections agency your case was assigned to.

You may use the Judicial/Administrative Review re: Good Cause Form to request that your cases with Bonney Lake or Sumner be removed from collections, lift FTA(s), and/or have late fee(s) waived.  

The Judicial/Administrative Review re: Good Cause Form provides an option to request a hearing to make an argument in front of the judge or write why the court should grant your request.

If you have cases in both Bonney Lake and Sumner, use a separate from for each court.

Contact:
Municipal Court Staff

Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30am - 5:00pm

Location/Mail:
Justice & Municipal Center
Attn: Municipal Court
9002 Main ST E, STE 100
Bonney Lake, WA 98391

Phone: 253-862-6606

Fax: 253-862-3053