so i was coming home from the lake today, way too many people there, i was agitated, put my rods and gear in the back, hopped in the passenger seat, and left... i was litterally 1/4 mile or less from the lake, crossed Meridian, into the mall parking lot, and then the lights came on from the Stater behind us... we pull over, and he walks directly to my door, not my girlfriends door whome was driving... we were in a parking stall, so there is no reason to not have gone to her side for safety reasons, but thats irrelevant... what is relevant, is he walked directly up to me, said "you are being recorded by audio and video, do you understand sir?" i replied "yes sir"... then, he said, "is there any reason you arent wearing your seatbelt?" my response, "i just left the lake, and kinda forgot for a second, as my phone just rang while pulling out"...124 dollar ticket.. no warning, just here, see ya later....

so, ive scoured up a little info so far, but, i always thought that police didnt have the right to pull you over for not wearing a seat belt, i always thought they needed a primary infraction that they could do that, what ive found so far, says exactly that... the article was written by some news paper, and not the police, and i understand that, but, i cannot find anything in the RCW that states that they can pull you over for that infraction alone...

heres the article
http://www.federalwaymirror.com/opinion/letters/19927549.html

heres the RCW
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.688

is there something im missing? or am i correct in thinking that it technically wasnt "legal" for him to do what he did? i appreciate cops very much, am always respectfull, never been arrested or taken to jail, but this is kinda messed up...i dont have an extra 124 dollars right now and cannot pay, so my only option is to go to court, and see what happens there....

so, was he in the right? do i sell a rod or 2 to pay for this? or should i go fight it in court because he legally couldnt have done what he did?

any help is greatly appreciated, no stupid comments please... thank you...