WashingtonCivil infraction notices give people set deadlines to respond
People named in civil infraction notices have 30 days to respond if served in person, or 33 days if the notice is mailed.
What it does
People named in civil infraction notices have 30 days to respond after personal service, or 33 days after the notice is mailed.
People may request a payment plan for infraction-related amounts. Courts must grant one to people who cannot pay in full if they meet the stated limits; otherwise, the court may grant one.
Each year, the state treasurer distributes money to counties for county clerk collection budgets, if the legislature appropriates money for that purpose.
Argument forA person who cannot pay an infraction obligation in full may get a payment plan, which could make repayment more manageable.
Argument againstPeople who cannot pay an infraction penalty in full may still face collection action if the court has authorized its agency to take legal steps to collect.
More detail
A person named in a civil infraction notice must respond by the deadline shown. The deadlines apply to people named in civil infraction notices. The notice must explain that a civil infraction is noncriminal and cannot be punished with jail as a sanction. The response period starts on the date the notice is personally served or mailed.
A person may request a payment plan for an infraction-related amount; in specified cases, the court must provide one. This applies to monetary penalties and other monetary obligations tied to a civil infraction. The court must set a plan if the person cannot pay in full, has not received a plan for the same amount before, and the court has not authorized its collection agency to take civil legal action. If such action is authorized, the court may choose to set a plan. A person may request a payment plan at any time.
The state treasurer distributes money to counties for county clerk collection budgets. The money goes to counties for county clerk collection budgets. The legislature must appropriate money for this purpose. The treasurer uses a formula recommended by the Washington Association of County Officials. The treasurer must distribute any appropriated funds by October 1 each year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 151, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 39; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#41). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 23LAW - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 2First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Jan 29Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#3). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 29Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 291st substitute bill substituted (CRJ 26).Major
- Jan 27Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 20Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 16Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 16CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 16Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 19Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Criminal JusticeGovernment & Ethics