Lake Forest Park Municipal Court Judge Jennifer Grant presided over an infraction calendar by Zoom on Oct. 22, 2025, resolving more than 20 cases. The court dismissed at least two contested citations, reduced multiple photo‑enforcement and red‑light fines, and granted deferred findings in several matters; cases for defendants who failed to appear were found committed by default.

The decisions matter because they affect whether infractions will appear on drivers’ records and how Lake Forest Park enforces photo radar, school walk zones and transit‑only lane restrictions across adjacent jurisdictions. Several rulings involved driver confusion about signage and camera enforcement around school walk zones and the SR‑522/Lake Forest Park boundary.

Most substantive rulings were procedural or penalty resolutions rather than trials. Judge Grant repeatedly explained the options available to defendants: contest the citation, accept mitigation (an admission with a reduced penalty), or request a deferred finding, a six‑month administrative continuation governed by state law and available only once every seven years. On dispositive rulings the judge used the record and, in contested matters, testimony and submitted dash‑cam or photo evidence.

Key rulings and examples include:

- A photo‑enforcement speeding citation issued Aug. 14 at 11:20 a.m. was dismissed after Melissa Gladden testified she, not the registered owner, was driving. Judge Grant: "I will dismiss this violation."

- Jennifer Havlin, who said she was on hospice call and unfamiliar with the area, had a school‑walk‑zone photo citation reduced to $75, with the court noting it was a first violation and that signage is posted. Judge Grant: "I will, reduce this to $75."

- Kelly Ogilvy and Ki Yu Wong each received reductions to $90 on first red‑light or school‑walk‑zone speeding citations after the judge reviewed the images and videos and noted both were first offenses: "Drop it to $90." (Kelly Ogilvy); "I will reduce the penalty to $90 for you." (Ki Yu Wong).

- In a contested hearing, the court reviewed a citation for improper passing on the right issued to Mikhail Cheprasov. The defendant presented dash‑cam images and argued signage and jurisdictional boundaries were confusing where Seattle pavement markings meet the Lake Forest Park transit‑only lane. Judge Grant denied a procedural dismissal for failure to serve discovery but, after hearing testimony and evidence, found the charge "not committed," noting jurisdictional confusion and admonishing the defendant to avoid passing on the right and transit‑only lanes in Lake Forest Park: "I am going to find this not committed... but I want you to take this as a learning experience."

- The court granted deferred findings in multiple cases where defendants were eligible and requested the option: Tracy Hughes (deferred), Austin Victor (deferred with time‑payment option), David Gabrick (deferred for both speeding and no‑license charges after producing proof of licensing), and Steven Dube (deferred). The deferred finding fee and administrative terms were explained; Judge Grant noted the $175 administrative fee and the six‑month compliance period.

- Several defendants were offered reductions on first infractions (typical reductions to $75 or $90) and were told the reduced amount and payment instructions would be mailed by court staff.

- The court entered defaults (failure to appear) and found violations committed with penalties imposed for multiple calendar items where notice was mailed but defendants did not appear. Judge Grant announced: "I will find the failure to appear and default. The violation is committed and the penalty is imposed." These defaults covered a set of cases calendared for earlier hearing times whose defendants did not appear.

Throughout the calendar Judge Grant and court staff repeatedly directed defendants to follow filing and discovery rules (requests must be served on the prosecuting attorney, not simply dropped at City Hall), to provide current mailing addresses, and to check forthcoming mailed paperwork for payment and deferred‑finding agreements. The court also reminded several defendants that photo‑enforcement citations for school walk zones are enforced at relatively low thresholds (six miles per hour over posted limits in some locations) and that those violations handled as photo evidence do not go on a driving record when reduced through mitigation.

Cases at a glance (defendant — outcome — key detail):

- Melissa Gladden — dismissed — testified she was the driver of vehicle registered to Brian Gladden; photo‑enforcement presumption overcome.
- Jennifer Havlin — reduced to $75 — said she was on hospice call; first offense.
- Kelly Ogilvy — reduced to $90 — red‑light photo evidence reviewed.
- Ki Yu Wong — reduced to $90 — 10 mph over in a 25 mph school‑walk‑zone area; first offense.
- Mikhail Cheprasov — dismissed (not committed) after contested hearing — court weighed dash‑cam, signage and jurisdictional confusion at the Seattle/Lake Forest Park boundary for a transit‑only lane citation (improper passing on right, RCW 46.61.115).
- Tracy Hughes — deferred finding granted — $175 admin fee; six‑month compliance period.
- Austin Victor — deferred finding granted — time‑payment plan offered for $175 fee.
- James Rivera — reduced to $90 — red‑light mitigation; first offense.
- Benjamin Meadow — reduced to $75 — school‑walk‑zone photo; first offense, not on driving record.
- Monique Gaines — reduced to $75 — school‑walk‑zone photo; first offense.
- Ekarunrong (dash‑cam presented) — reduced to $75 — school‑walk‑zone, first offense.
- David Gabrick — deferred finding granted for both speeding and no‑valid‑license charges after producing proof of license; court reduced the no‑license penalty and allowed deferral of the speeding charge pending compliance.
- Steven Dube — deferred finding granted — six‑month dismissal if compliant.
- Multiple calendar items (various defendants) — failure to appear; violations committed by default and penalties imposed (court found notice adequate in each case listed on the record).

Judge Grant closed the calendar by reminding defendants to read mailed notices carefully, serve discovery properly when required, and watch jurisdictional signage when driving near city boundaries and transit lanes. The court staff will mail updated invoices, deferred‑finding agreements and payment instructions to the addresses on file; defendants were told to update their addresses if needed.

The docket was adjourned after completion of the afternoon calendar.