What defines a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO)?

A Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) is defined primarily by the accumulation of moving violations over a specific period, which reflects a pattern of unsafe driving behavior. In Washington State, accumulating 20 moving violations within a five-year period classifies an individual as a Habitual Traffic Offender. This designation is significant because it can lead to more severe penalties, including increased insurance rates and potential revocation of driving privileges.

Moving violations encompass various offenses, such as speeding, running a red light, or reckless driving, all of which indicate a disregard for traffic laws and safety. The requirement of accumulating such violations over a five-year span is specifically designed to identify drivers who repeatedly engage in unsafe practices, rather than those who may have a single lapse in judgment.

In contrast, the other options either suggest fewer violations or unrelated offenses, such as parking tickets which do not affect driving records in the same way and do not demonstrate a pattern of dangerous driving behavior.