Despite what what most people believe, it is not the traffic laws themselves that win speeding ticket and other cases most of the time. It is the knowledge of the procedural rules and deficiencies in, for example, speed testing processes. Furthermore, it is extrememly difficult for local governments to muster the legal wherewithal to fight smaller violations. On the other hand, each violation has certain elements, and there is case law relating to those elements. The specific requirements of the law are not always followed to the degree necessary to bring a citation or charge to successful conclusion in favor of the government.

Washington 's traffic violation laws are similar those in many other states. If you commit three speeding and/or misdemeanor traffic violations within 18 months, your license will be revoked for at least six months. It is, therefore, imperative that you fight every single ticket as you receive them. Once a guilty conviction is entered on your record, it is very, very difficult to have it removed. Under Washington Law, there are many types of alleged violations that can result in your being issued a ticket. The one people are most familiar with is speeding. In Washington, this is known as Violation of the Basic Rule, which is codified as RCW 46.61.400.