Negligent Driving 2nd Degree

Negligent Driving 2^nd Degree is one of the most serious infractions in Washington State.   The fine for Negligent Driving 2nd Degree is $559.00.  Additionally, insurance companies do not always understand the differences between Negligent Driving 1^st Degree (a crime) and Negligent Driving 2^nd Degree and treat a civil traffic infraction the same way they treat a criminal charge.

Negligent Driving in the First Degree (RCW 46.61.525) is when

A person operates a motor vehicle in a manner that is both negligent and endangers or is likely to endanger any person or property.

“Negligent” means the failure of a driver to exercise ordinary care, which means that the driver did something on the roadway that a reasonably careful person would not do under the same or similar circumstances. The two main situations where Negligent Driving is cited are 1) auto accidents and 2) when an officer sees multiple traffic infractions, like speeding, running a red light, or making several lane changes at once.   What is negligent is highly subjective and often comes down to the officer’s judgment.  An officer may escalate a regular ticket to a Neg 2 citation if they believe the driving is too extreme.

An experience traffic ticket attorney can help you avoid a Negligent Driving second degree ticket.  Just because the officer believes driving is negligent, doesn’t mean they can prove its negligent.  An attorney who knows the Rules of Evidence and the Court Rules will be able to help make the legal arguments required to get a Negligent Driving ticket dismissed.  I’ve been fighting ticket for my clients since 1999.  If you want someone who knows how to fight a Negligent Driving ticket, give me a call.