A prayer for judgment continued (PJC) is a procedure that may be available in traffic ticket court to allow a person who has received a traffic ticket or citation to avoid some or all of fines, penalties, and other consequences.

A PJC essentially allows the driver to plead guilty to the infraction or offense (or to be convicted by the judge or jury) and for the court/judge to continue the judgment or final effect of the guilty plea or conviction indefinitely—allowing the driver to avoid large fines, penalty points added to their driver’s license or record, increased insurance premiums, and possible suspension of their driver’s license.

In this context, a prayer is a request by the prosecutor/government to enter judgment (a final decision or determination) against the driver based on their guilty plea, and for the judge to indefinitely continue or postpone the entry of judgment, which prevents it from becoming final and effective.

Laws vary from state to state and in states where a PJC is an option, it is limited and in the judge’s discretion—a driver or household may only be allowed one PJC every few years, for example. But if a driver receives a more serious ticket or citation (with a significant fine or penalty points) and is unable to get it dismissed or reduced to a lesser infraction or offense, a PJC may be an option. A driver who gets a PJC may still be required to pay court costs, for example, as they are not classified as a penalty.

In the state of Washington (WA), the concept of a 'Prayer for Judgment Continued' (PJC) does not exist in the same form as it might in other states, such as North Carolina where it is more commonly recognized. Washington State does not have a PJC procedure as described. Instead, Washington courts may offer options like deferred findings for certain traffic infractions, which allow a driver to potentially avoid the consequences of a traffic violation. Under a deferred finding, the court may set conditions such as not committing any further traffic violations for a specified period, and if the driver complies, the infraction may be dismissed. However, this option is typically limited to minor traffic offenses and cannot be used for more serious violations or criminal traffic offenses. The availability of such options is at the discretion of the court, and there are restrictions on how often a driver can use this benefit. It's important for drivers in Washington to consult with an attorney to understand the options available for their specific situation and the potential consequences of their traffic infractions.