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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

New traffic school looking for students

Next time a motor officer hands you a traffic violation, you could be eligible for a seat in the city’s new traffic school.

The county already has a traffic school, but now the city does as well.The six-hour course starts Jan. 5 and gives drivers an alternative to a violation stamped on their insurance or driving record through Spokane Municipal Court.

One of the instructors, officer Nate Spiering calls the course a good first option for drivers that are offered the course. Depending on the traffic violation, drivers are handed a flyer for the class while they’re handed a ticket.

Spiering says once the course is completed, the violation is gone, like it never existed.

For some drivers, the class will be a refresher course, others - a revelation.

“Some people have been through driver’s (education) in the past six months, some never had,” Spiering said. “We’re hoping for a full encompassing education back to the public.”

The course will be taught at Spokane Police Academy and will focus on the correlation between speeding and distractions like cell phones. They’ll also talk about bicycle and pedestrian safety and other rules of the road that are unique to Spokane like u-turn restrictions in the city limits.

When drivers receive a ticket, they have 15 days to apply for the course. When you go to the municipal court clerk’s office for your ticket, you can pay $124, which is the standard penalty for a ticket in Washington state if you’re caught not wearing a seat belt or using your cell phone, for the class.

There are a couple more conditions at Spokane Police’s website that explain who is eligible and who is not so if you’re stuck with a ticket right now, check out the requirements and see if the traffic school is an option for you.



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