Can you imagine the frustration of being unable to drive your children to school, attend an important appointment, or commute to work all because of some past mistakes you made on the road? In Olympia, Washington, those who stack up a history of serious traffic violations might find themselves labeled as a habitual traffic offender (HTO). Does this sound like you?
A designation like this can come with some severe consequences, including the revocation of your driving privileges for up to seven years. The emotional and practical impact of these charges can also be devastating because they can disrupt your daily life and limit your personal and professional growth and opportunities.
A habitual traffic offender is someone who has committed multiple traffic violations within a specific period, demonstrating a pattern of disregard when it comes to public safety. This label in Washington is typically assigned to you if you are guilty of three of the more major offenses—DUIs, reckless driving, or vehicular assault—within three years or if you have stacked up 20 or more moving violations within five years. Once you are designated as an HTO, the penalties can have far-reaching consequences and often come with a criminal record that follows you into your future.
You will typically experience a mandatory driver’s license revocation with an HTO designation, and driving while your license is revoked is considered a criminal offense in Washington. This can result in hefty fines, additional charges, and even jail time. You may find yourself in a cycle of always trying to regain your driving privileges while still meeting all of your demands with work, home, school, and your family. The process of getting your license reinstated can also be complicated and very time-consuming. It demands legal expertise and compliance with strict requirements.
However, if you were given the HTO designation in Olympia, do not lose all hope just yet. Yes, these charges can be challenging, but with the right determination and legal support, you can petition for early reinstatement or explore occupational or restricted licenses.
Taking the proactive step of speaking with a criminal defense attorney can help you regain control of your life and navigate the process with ease and much less stress.
Washington Laws Governing HTO Designations in OlympiaIn Olympia, the HTO designation is governed primarily by RCW 46.65, which outlines the criteria, penalties, and procedures that go along with this title. The statute provides due process and requires that you receive notice of your designation and be allowed to contest it through a hearing (RCW 46.65.030).
It also shows how you can restore your limited driving privileges under strict conditions, like obtaining an occupational or restricted driver’s license (RCW 46.20.391), installing an ignition interlock device (RCW 46.20.720), and maintaining SR-22 insurance (RCW 46.29.490).
Further, the laws under this statute ensure that the legal system addresses repeat offenders while offering avenues for rehabilitation and reinstatement, at least for those who demonstrate a commitment to comply with these traffic laws.
Here are just a few more notable points under this statute that you will want to familiarize yourself with when it comes to the charges you may be facing.
Olympia, Washington, is a busy capital city known for its scenic views, rich heritage, and booming cultural scene. With its proximity to nature, including many beautiful parks and outdoor spaces, you can see why this city attracts both residents and visitors. It is the ideal place to live, work, and explore. However, as the population continues to grow, traffic congestion increases and the risk of traffic violations and accidents also begins to rise. This can affect people’s daily movements and lives.
If you find yourself accumulating multiple offenses, you must understand that you are at risk of being labeled a habitual traffic offender. This comes with a ton of consequences that we have talked about like mandatory license revocation.
Whether due to repeated DUI offenses, reckless driving, or a pattern of minor violations, the HTO label is serious. This is why you must gain a clear understanding of the legal process involved and find ways you can avoid further charges and the long-term effects this designation can have on your life.
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help HTOs in OlympiaA criminal defense attorney in Olympia can provide you with essential guidance when facing an HTO designation. They can help assess whether your charges are accurate or if there is some room to challenge them. If you have been wrongfully designated, an experienced attorney can advocate on your behalf and even seek to reduce or dismiss the charges. In cases where the designation is valid, they can still play a big role in helping you navigate the legal system and ensure your rights are being upheld.
Your attorney can also petition for a restricted or occupational license on your behalf and help you meet all the requirements for reinstatement. These licenses allow you to maintain essential driving privileges under specific conditions like driving to work or attending medical appointments.
We believe that every habitual traffic offender designation can be challenged in some way. Our experienced attorneys have been defending clients in Western Washington for over 20 years now and have challenged traffic-related offenses.
If you or a loved one are facing an HTO designation, we can help. Our dedicated and skilled Olympia attorneys are committed to fighting to restore your driving rights. We will work tirelessly to minimize the impact the charges have and help you move forward.
Being designated a habitual traffic offender (HTO) will negatively impact you in numerous ways for years. If you are at risk of being designated as HTO, you must speak to an attorney before it is too late. Once designated as HTO, you will have a 4 year license suspension which can go up to 7 years. Unfortunately, many people contact our office too late after the damage has already been done.
We certainly understand you might need to drive for work purposes but the unfortunate reality is you have lost that privilege due to your past driving. A court and the DOL are not going to put the community at risk because it is inconvenient for you. Basically, their rational is you made your bed and now you have to sleep in it.
There are two key ways to be classified as a habitual traffic offender. The most common way is by getting three “strikes” within a 5 year period. There are numerous criminal traffic charges which qualify. The most common examples are a DUI, Reckless Driving, Physical Control, Hit & Run Attended, and Driving while license suspended 2°. It is especially important to be aware of the fact that all of those criminal convictions will also result in a license suspension (DWLS 2°) so many people get one strike on the initial conviction and then quickly get a second strike due to driving on a suspended license. If you get caught driving again, you have three quick strikes.
The second way to be designated HTO is by having 20 moving violations go on your record within that 5 year period. Moving violations include driving crimes as well as moving traffic infractions, such as speeding and failure to stop. Normally, people who are facing HTO status due to tickets will have already been suspended previously for getting too many tickets. The Department of Licensing will suspend your license if you get 4 moving violations in a one year period of 5 within two years. Hopefully, this will have put people on notice of the greater danger that lays ahead of them if they do not change their driving. Obviously, we would also encourage you to contact an attorney before getting the first suspension as well.
If you are concerned about possibly getting a license suspension, give our office a call. We will be more than happy to discuss your record and what you could be potentially facing.