Washington Administrative Code

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J1849 is adopted by reference as the standard for emergency vehicle sirens.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.320. WSR 08-19-079, § 204-10-120, filed 9/16/08, effective 10/17/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. WSR 93-…

The purpose of this chapter is to outline additional lighting requirements in an effort to reduce motor vehicle collisions caused by improper lighting.By authority of RCW 46.37.005, 46.37.185, 46.37.190, 46.37.194, 46.37.280, 46.37.290, 46.37.300, 46.37.310, 46.37.320, and chapte…

(1) "Agricultural equipment" means any farm vehicle required by RCW 46.37.160 to have hazard warning lamps.(2) "Animal control vehicle" means any vehicle, either publicly or privately owned, which is used primarily for transportation of animals to or from animal shelters, humane …

(1) All lighting equipment must be mounted:(a) Securely on a rigid part of the vehicle to prevent noticeable vibration of the beam.(b) At the height prescribed as measured from the center of the lamp or reflector to the level surface upon which the vehicle stands when it is witho…

Headlamps must be mounted as specified in FMVSS 108, chapter 46.37 RCW, and as follows:(1) On motor vehicles:(a) If installed after November 15, 1975, the headlamps must not be closer than twelve inches to the centerline of the vehicle. This distance must be measured from the cen…

Clearance lamps, side marker lamps, and identification lamps must be mounted as specified in 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108 (FMVSS 108) unless other requirements are outlined in RCW 46.37.090 or this section.(1) Clearance lamps on vehicles manufactured prior to May 1, 1980, do not need t…

(1) Turn signal lamps visible to approaching or following drivers must:(a) Flash at a rate of sixty to one hundred twenty flashes per minute.(b) Flash in unison. Except that a turn signal consisting of two or more units mounted horizontally may flash in sequence from inboard to o…

Supplemental high-mounted stop and rear turn signal lamps must meet requirements of SAE J1957 and J2068.(1) Supplemental high-mounted stop and rear turn signal lamps must:(a) Be single-faced.(b) Be actuated in the same manner and at the same time as the required stop lamps or tur…

(1) Fog lamps must:(a) Meet SAE Standard J583.(b) Be white to amber in color.(c) Be mounted in accordance with RCW 46.37.180 and so the inner edge of the lens retaining ring is no closer than four inches to the optical center of the front turn signal lamp to provide illumination …

Auxiliary driving lamps must:(1) Meet SAE Standard J581.(2) Be white in color.(3) Provide illumination forward the vehicle.(4) Be wired so that the taillights are lighted whenever the driving lamps are lighted. If driving lamps are not wired to operate only with headlamp high bea…

Auxiliary passing lamps must:(1) Meet SAE Standard J582a.(2) Be white to amber in color.(3) Be mounted in accordance with RCW 46.37.180 and so the inner edge of the lens retaining ring is no closer than four inches to the optical center of the front turn signal lamp.(4) Be aimed …

Spot lamps must meet SAE Standard J591.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.320. WSR 08-19-104, § 204-21-110, filed 9/17/08, effective 10/18/08.]

Cornering lamps:(1) Must meet SAE Standard J852.(2) Must be on the front of the vehicle near the side or the side near the front.(3) Must, if they have means to adjust and aim the lamp, be mounted so the center of the high intensity portion of the beam is within 40 to 50 degrees …

(1) All emergency lamps must meet the criteria established in RCW 46.37.320. In descending order of preference, these are:(a) Conformance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or; if none(b) Conformance to current standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Eng…

Flashing warning lamps may be mounted at any height and must:(1) Meet the SAE Standards outlined for the type of vehicle as outlined in the table below.Vehicle TypeStandard AdoptedAgricultural equipmentSAE J974Industrial equipmentSAE J96(2) Be mounted so that the entire projected…

Side cowl, fender, or running board courtesy lamps must meet SAE Standard J575.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.320. WSR 08-19-104, § 204-21-150, filed 9/17/08, effective 10/18/08.]

(1) Every farm tractor, self-propelled unit of farm equipment, implement of husbandry designed for operation at speeds not in excess of twenty-five miles per hour and every combination of farm tractor and towed farm equipment or towed implement of husbandry normally operated at s…

(1) Additional headlamps may be positioned sufficiently high enough to clear operating equipment provided they are aimed at an angle to avoid blinding oncoming traffic while on their routes, involved in construction, maintenance, and/or operations. Except, refuse haulers must:(a)…

(1) Deceleration warning lights must:(a) Be installed as follows:(i) Only one such system may be mounted on a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor, or pole trailer.(ii) Provision must be made for rigid or shock-absorbing mounting.(iii) The axis of the light beam mus…

(1) If the bus is a privately owned school bus or private carrier bus, then it must not use the eight lamp warning system unless such use is in conformance with the rules and regulations set forth by the superintendent of public instruction in chapters 392-143 and 392-145 WAC. Th…

(1) All signal lamps on private carrier buses must be constructed in conformance with the SAE Standard for "school bus red signal lamps," in effect at the time of manufacture of such lamps, and must:(a) Be mounted on the front and rear of the bus, above the windows, as high and a…

All bus hazard warning strobe lamps must meet the Class 2 requirements of SAE Standard J1318, and may only be used as follows:(1) School buses may be equipped with a single additional hazard strobe lamp in addition to the eight lamp warning system. Such lamps must:(a) Be mounted …

A lamp must be used on the tongue of any trailer where the distance between the front of the trailer body and the rear of the body of the towing vehicle is fifteen feet or greater, and where the top of the tongue is less than twenty-four inches above the ground at any point betwe…

(1) The addition of a lamp, reflective device or other motor vehicle equipment must not impair the effectiveness of lighting equipment required by 49 C.F.R. Part 571.108, as it exists on February 22, 2022, or chapter 46.37 RCW.(a) If a vehicle is in motion on a public roadway, th…

By authority of RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.420, the Washington state patrol adopts the following standards for tire chains and traction devices.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. WSR 12-17-116, § 204-24-005, filed 8/21/12, effective 9/21/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and …

These standards apply to tire chains and traction devices designed for and used upon a public roadway.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. WSR 12-17-116, § 204-24-010, filed 8/21/12, effective 9/21/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.420. WSR 08-24-030, § 204-24-010,…

(1) "All wheel drive" means a vehicle which has four-wheel drive capability and may be driven with all wheels in gear.(2) "Alternative traction device (ATD)" means pneumatically driven chains which, when engaged, spin under the drive wheels automatically as traction is lost or a …

(1) Link tire chains must meet the National Association of Chain Manufacturers Tire Chain Specifications NACM-5179(TC).(2) Cable tire chains must be designed for use on tires mounted in accordance with specifications in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J…

Studded tires must meet the following specifications:(1) Studs must be metal, tipped with tungsten carbide.(2) Metal studs must be inserted only in a new tire or a newly-recapped tire which has molded in the tread the "pin-holes" into which metal studs are to be inserted. Studs m…

(1) In order for an alternative traction device to be considered approved:(a) The alternative traction device must be tested in accordance with a recognized standard on vehicles certified by its manufacturer as complying with the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standar…

The following equipment items are approved by the state patrol for use as traction devices wherever traction devices are required by the department of transportation:(1) Tire chains meeting the standards in WAC 204-24-020.(2) Studded tires meeting the standards in WAC 204-24-030.…

(1) Vehicles under 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.When traffic control signs are posted by the department of transportation it will be unlawful for any vehicle to enter the controlled area without having mounted on its drive tires the traction device specified by the sign, wh…

(1) Any tire chain, wheel chains, or studded tires meeting the standards in this chapter or certified under one of the following:(a) Conformance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or, if none,(b) Conformance to current standards and specifications of the Society of Automo…

(1) Hearings under this chapter will be pursuant to chapters 34.05 RCW and 10-08 WAC as supplemented by this section.(2) A presiding officer will conduct a hearing and any prehearing conference(s).(3) The burden of proof in any hearing will be on the applicant seeking approval, o…

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the patrol suspending or revoking an approval may appeal such decision to the superior court under the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. WSR 12-17-116, § 204-24-090, filed 8/21/12, effective 9/21/12.]

(1) "Chief" means the chief of the Washington state patrol or their designee.(2) "Private carrier bus" means every motor vehicle designed for the purpose of carrying passengers used regularly to transport persons in furtherance of any organized agricultural, religious, or charita…

The signal lamps required on private carrier buses must be constructed in conformance with the society of automotive engineers standard for "school bus red signal lamps," in effect at the time of manufacture of such lamps. All lamps used as signal lamps must meet the requirements…

The stop signal required on private carrier buses must:(1) Be fourteen inches vertically and eighteen inches horizontally.(2) Be treated with red reflective material.(3) Have the word "stop" painted on the sign in white with letters which are a minimum of eight inches in height a…

A sign must be affixed to every private carrier bus that is plainly visible and contains the words "private carrier bus." The sign must:(1) Have letters not less than eight inches in height.(2) Have letters that are at least three-quarter-inch stroke.(3) Be located above the wind…

A sign must be affixed to the rear of every private carrier bus that is clearly visible and contains the words "unlawful to pass bus when red lights flash." The sign must:(1) Be sixteen inches vertically and thirty-two inches horizontally.(2) Have a background of silver retrodire…

(1) The driver of any private carrier bus, carrying any passenger, before crossing at grade any track or tracks of a railroad, must stop such vehicle within fifty feet but no less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and while so stopped must listen and look i…

The chief may, from time to time, require that every private carrier bus be presented at some location which must be designated by him for the purpose of inspection of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle is equipped as required by law and the provisions of this regulation.[St…

The chief may delegate officers of the Washington state patrol to work with private carrier bus operators and owners to establish routes and passenger loading and unloading locations which will provide the greatest safety for bus passengers and the motoring public. Bus stops and …

The state patrol hereby adopts the following regulations relating to the issuance of an authorized emergency vehicle permit, for those vehicles not already authorized under state or federal statute.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.194. WSR 14-24-116, § 204-36-010, filed 12/3/14, e…

(1) Applicant means any person, firm, corporation or municipal corporation desiring to have a vehicle registered as an authorized emergency vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.37.194. (2) Authorized emergency vehicle has the same meaning as defined in RCW 46.04.040.(3) Burial, removal, or…

(1) An applicant desiring to have a vehicle registered as an authorized emergency vehicle pursuant to RCW 46.37.194 must apply for such classification to the patrol on forms provided by the patrol.(2) The initial applicant must furnish the following information to the patrol:(a) …

(1) A vehicle authorized by the patrol must not be used as an authorized emergency vehicle except as follows:(a) Only by the operators named in the permit approved by the patrol.(b) Only with the equipment described in the permit approved by the patrol.(c) Only within the geograp…

(1) Authorized emergency vehicles must be:(a) Conventional passenger cars, vans, pickups, or similar vehicles;(b) Conventionally painted; and(c) Legally equipped in conformance with RCW 46.37.190(1) with at least one lamp capable of displaying a red light visible from at least 50…

(1) If the patrol approves the initial application, the applicant will be issued a temporary permit for the vehicle(s) which will be valid for thirty days, during which time the emergency equipment may be installed for the purpose of inspection. After installation of the emergenc…

(1) Operators must have a valid driver's license properly endorsed to operate the vehicle(s) listed under the permit.(2) The patrol may refuse to approve the application, certificate or permit, or in the case of an application which lists multiple operators may refuse to approve …