Washington Driving Offenses | Criminal Traffic Charges

Help with Washington Driving Offenses

A criminal traffic charge can carry consequences beyond a ticket. Depending on the charge and the outcome, you may face fines, jail, or a license suspension. A driving record can also affect insurance costs and work that requires a clean record, including commercial truck driving, bus driving, and taxi driving.

These are criminal charges in Washington, not traffic infractions that can be paid like a ticket. Court dates and licensing notices carry their own deadlines, and both are worth reviewing early.

Start with the charge listed on your citation or court paperwork. The guides below explain four charges we help clients address.

Criminal Traffic Charges We Handle

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving involves driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. How you drove and the surrounding conditions matter when reviewing the charge.

Read about reckless driving charges and defense options in Washington.

Attempting to Elude

Attempting to elude can involve a driver who willfully fails to stop for a police signal and drives recklessly while trying to get away. Reviewing the signal, the vehicle, and the driving evidence helps clarify the accusation.

Understand attempting to elude police charges in Washington.

Hit and Run

Hit and run charges concern a driver's duties after a collision, including stopping and sharing information. The circumstances, including whether anyone was hurt or a vehicle was unattended, affect the charge.

Learn about attended and unattended hit and run charges.

Reckless Endangerment

Reckless endangerment involves reckless conduct that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person. A defense starts with examining the conduct and the risk alleged in the case.

Explore reckless endangerment charges and defense options.

How Callahan Law Can Help

We review the citation, police reports, and available evidence with your concerns in mind. We look for weaknesses in the case and discuss whether to challenge the charge or seek a negotiated resolution. The options depend on the facts of your case.

Most traffic cases turn on the officer's report, the citation, and what the officer can testify to in court. When those records do not support the charge, we raise it with the court and work toward a dismissal or a reduction.

Criminal traffic charges often come up alongside a DUI arrest. When that happens, your license moves on a separate timeline. Our guide to DUI license suspension in Washington explains what happens to your license and what your options are.

Bring your court paperwork and any notices about your license to your consultation. Tell us about upcoming dates and how driving affects your work or family so we can help you plan the next steps.

Contact Us for a Free Consultation

Protect your license before deadlines pass

Court dates and DOL timelines move quickly. Early action protects your ability to drive to work and care for your family.
Do not risk a conviction or an unnecessary suspension. Contact Callahan Law P.S., Inc. today for a free consultation with Linda M. Callahan, author of the Washington DUI Practice Manual.

Call or Text 24/7: (206) 866-6739

Our Offices:

Seattle: Serving King, Snohomish, and Kitsap Counties
Olympia: Serving Thurston and Pierce Counties
Shelton: Serving Mason County

We represent clients arrested throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Kitsap, and Mason Counties. We handle criminal court and DOL steps in one coordinated plan.