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Posts categorized under Tickets and Infractions Archives - For the Record

Seattle parking fines are increasing Jan. 1, 2025 

Next year, the fine for most Seattle parking violations will increase.  Currently, most parking fines range from $29 to $53, depending on the type of violation. The new fines will range from $43 to $78. The full list of parking violations with a new fine amount is located here: https://www.seattle.gov/courts/for-attorneys/local-court-rules#smclir6.2monetarypenaltyscheduleforinfractions… [ Keep reading ]

SERIES: Who’s Who at SMC

Last month, SMC introduced a new blog series—essentially a “Who’s Who at SMC” —that lets you get to know the people behind the scenes who make the day-to-day interactions at the court function. Our second person for you to meet is Noah Weil, a magistrate at the court. Click here to… [ Keep reading ]

Community Relief – Day, December 1, 2023

Seattle Municipal Court and social service providers are coming together to provide a Community Relief Day: Seattle Tickets & Social Services Event on Friday, December 1, 2023, 10 am – 4 pm at the Public Health/Chinook Building, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle. Community members can address unpaid Seattle tickets, Seattle Municipal Court warrants, and access a range of supportive services from partnering organizations.

SMC to reinstate electronic payment transaction fee December 1, 2023

Beginning December 1, 2023, Seattle Municipal Court will reinstate a $3.60 transaction fee for payments made by credit or debit card by phone or via the court’s website to recoup associated payment processing expenses including bank fees. This transaction fee has been suspended since March 2020 to help individuals during… [ Keep reading ]

New Videos Released to Help Individuals Navigate Seattle Municipal Court Processes

Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) has developed three explainer videos as additional tools for guiding court-involved individuals through court processes and procedures. At SMC, we understand that receiving a ticket or being summoned to court can be a stressful time, and that court processes may be difficult to navigate. We are… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Municipal Court Releases Analysis of Disproportionality in Assessed Fines and Fees

In March 2023, the Seattle Municipal Court (SMC or Court) completed a research report entitled, “Analysis of Seattle Municipal Court Imposed Criminal Fines and Fees.” The report is in response to a Seattle City Council Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) SMC-001-A-002 and a recommendation in a Seattle City Auditor 2021… Filed Under: Equity and Accessibility, Fines and Fees, Racial EquityTagged With: , , ,

Taking steps to reform legal fines and fees

One very important area of criminal justice reform is in legal financial obligations, or LFOs: fines, fees, costs and restitution imposed by the court. A recent report found that “people of color in Seattle were consistently charged with more fines and fees per capita than White people, across all types of cases,” as this Bloomberg… [ Keep reading ]