RCW 46.61.165TBWD eligibleCarpool / HOV
HOV lane violation
Use of a high-occupancy-vehicle lane without meeting occupancy requirements.
RCW Title 46 46.61.165 — statutory text
Official source ↗The state department of transportation and the local authorities are authorized to reserve all or any designated portion of a highway under their respective jurisdictions, including any designated lane or ramp, for the exclusive or preferential use of public transportation vehicles or private motor vehicles carrying no fewer than a specified number of passengers when such limitation will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources. Any person who drives a vehicle in violation of restrictions established under this section shall be guilty of a traffic infraction.
Quoted from the California Legislative Information website. The full section may contain additional subdivisions not reproduced here — click “Official source” for the complete text as currently in force.
Base fine
$186.00
Does not include court fees or assessments.
DMV points
0
No DMV points.
Filing window
15 days
From citation date, use form IRLJ-3.1.
You can file a Trial by Written Declaration
Washington allows contested hearing by mail under IRLJ 3.1(b)(1).
Defenses our AI considers (14)
- Equipment fixed — correctable violationhistorical success ~80%Equipment violations (window tint, exhaust, lights, plates, wipers, etc.) are correctable in every supported state. Proof of repair signed by a qualified inspector resolves the citation administratively.
- Documentary cure — proof on date of citationhistorical success ~75%Many "failure to produce" charges (insurance, registration, license) are dismissed on proof the document existed and was valid on the date of citation. This is codified in most state fix-it / correctable-violation statutes.
- Sign obscured, missing, or recently changedhistorical success ~50%A driver cannot be held to a regulation that was not reasonably communicated. An obscured, damaged, missing, or recently-changed sign at the cited location is both a mistake-of-fact defense and a due-process notice defect.
- Statute of limitations / speedy-trial violationhistorical success ~45%Every state imposes statutory deadlines between citation, arraignment, and trial. When the state misses a jurisdictional deadline — including officer-declaration deadlines in TBWD proceedings — dismissal is mandatory, not discretionary.
Our AI drafts 3 options per case, tailored to your ticket's facts. You choose or regenerate.