Youth Traffic Court

Youth Traffic Court is a program available at Renton Municipal Court to allow youth drivers the opportunity to resolve traffic infractions by participating in a Youth Traffic Court instead of having their case heard on a mainstream, adult court calendar. Participants attend a Youth Traffic Court hearing instead of a mainstream infraction mitigation or contested hearing calendar.

Participants in Youth Court have their cases heard by a true jury of their peers—their fellow youth in the community—in a process committed to restorative justice and fairness. Having a case heard in Youth Traffic Court allows participants the chance to not only have a case dismissed (without being reported as part of their driving record) but also gives youth the opportunity to complete alternatives such as community service, Youth Court participation, and more instead of paying fines or costs for infractions.

Drivers aged 16 or 17 who receive a civil, traffic infraction may request to have their citations heard in the Youth Traffic Court program. Criminal traffic or criminal non-traffic charges are not eligible for the program. Examples of civil, traffic infractions include the following: speeding citations, speeding in a school zone citations, use of personal electric device while driving, etc. Participants are encouraged to complete a Youth Traffic Court Participation Request Form(PDF, 50KB) if they are interested in having their case considered for the program and/or if they would like to learn more about whether their citation is eligible.

Participants can apply for Youth Traffic Court by completing a Youth Traffic Court Participation Request Form(PDF, 50KB) either in person at Renton Municipal Court or by emailing a completed copy to the following email: RMCourt@rentonwa.gov.

If you are interested in becoming an official team member of Renton Youth Traffic Court, please complete the Volunteer Form below! Upon submission, a member of the team will be in contact with you. Thank you for your interest in joining our Youth Traffic Court! 

Volunteer Form - Youth Traffic Court

RCW 3.72.010 authorizes the creation of a youth court with jurisdiction over traffic offenses for infractions committed by juveniles aged sixteen or seventeen at the time of the infraction. The statute also lists requirements for participation in the program, suggested conditions for successful completion of the program, and authorizes a court to dismiss an infraction for a participant.

Youth drivers interested in participating in Youth Traffic Court must complete a request form to be approved by a Municipal Court Judge.  Once approved, the participant receives a notice advising them of their hearing date.  

Youth Traffic Court depends heavily upon participation of student leadership. The Youth Traffic Court program is available for students by students. The program is student led and facilitated with a judge serving in a supportive, advisory role. The Youth Traffic Court program is an inclusive program that strives to empower and encourage youth to become innovators of our justice system through their participation.

The Youth Traffic Court program has participation opportunities for students with a diverse range of interests and availability.

At the conclusion of every Youth Traffic Court hearing, each participant will be provided with a condition(s) to satisfy in order to receive a dismissal of their case. The conditions are provided for in the Youth Court statute, and may include: participation in law-related classes, serving as a future youth court participant, writing a letter of apology, writing an essay on an assigned topic, performing community service, or more. The participant will have the opportunity to request specific conditions and to provide feedback to the Youth Traffic Court regarding recommended conditions during the restorative justice circle. Participant statements will be given equal and fair consideration.

Once conditions are assigned, participants will have the support of their assigned Youth Traffic Court mentor in completing their conditions. Mentors will assist the participant in filing proof of completion of the condition with the court. A Municipal Court Judge must review and approve any proof of completion of the condition(s) before granting a dismissal of the infraction.

If conditions are not completed by the assigned deadline, a participant’s case will be scheduled for a contested hearing on an adult/mainstream infraction calendar. The participant’s case could have a committed finding entered and the court could impose costs and fines as allowed by state law.

Youth Traffic Court allows drivers the opportunity to learn from mistakes and to help improve our community’s overall safety through their participation.  Rather than face fines, increased insurance rates, or an infraction upon their driving record, youth drivers have the chance to earn a dismissal of their infraction and help them avoid many of the expensive or punitive results of a traffic infraction.

Restorative justice is the practice of repairing harm caused by an infraction or crime rather than focusing on punishment.  Restorative justice models focus on the participants as individuals to find fair and equitable resolutions to community problems, rather than to sanction or punish all individuals based upon the citation issued.  Restorative justice works to build community, engage individuals in problem-solving, and create inclusiveness and equity in the justice system.

Youth Traffic Court utilizes a restorative justice model to engage participants in the opportunity to develop equitable and fair conditions to repair community harm or risk caused by traffic offenses.  Rather than punish student drivers with fines, increased insurance rates, or an infraction on their driving record—Youth Traffic Court serves all student communities in Renton to ensure that each driver is heard in an inclusive and fair environment.