Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES
54 chapters · 1,673 sections in this title.
RCW 46.37.380 Horns, warning devices, and theft alarms.
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(1) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no horn or other warning device may emit an unreasonably loud or h…
RCW 46.37.390 Mufflers required—Smoke and air contaminant standards—Definitions—Penalty, exception.
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(1) Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass, or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway.(2)(a) No motor vehi…
RCW 46.37.395 Compression brakes (Jake brakes).
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(1) This section applies to all motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kilograms or more (10,001 pounds or more), registered and domiciled in Washington state, operated on public roads and equipped with engine compression brake devices. An engine compression b…
RCW 46.37.400 Mirrors, backup devices.
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(1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle and so located to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of such vehicle.(2) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with an …
RCW 46.37.410 Windshields required, exception—Must be unobstructed and equipped with wipers.
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(1) All motor vehicles operated on the public highways of this state shall be equipped with a front windshield manufactured of safety glazing materials for use in motor vehicles in accordance with RCW 46.37.430, except, however, on such vehicles not so equipped or where windshiel…
RCW 46.37.420 Tires—Restrictions.
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(1) It is unlawful to operate a vehicle upon the public highways of this state unless it is completely equipped with pneumatic rubber tires except vehicles equipped with temporary-use spare tires that meet federal standards that are installed and used in accordance with the manuf…
RCW 46.37.4215 Lightweight and retractable studs—Certification by sellers.
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Beginning January 1, 2000, a person offering to sell to a tire dealer conducting business in the state of Washington, a metal flange or cleat intended for installation as a stud in a vehicle tire shall certify that the studs are: (1) Lightweight studs as defined in RCW 46.04.272;…
RCW 46.37.4216 Lightweight and retractable studs—Sale of tires containing.
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Beginning July 1, 2001, a person may not sell a studded tire or sell a stud for installation in a tire unless the stud qualifies as a: (1) Lightweight stud under RCW 46.04.272; or (2) retractable stud that is exempt from the requirements of RCW 46.04.272.[ 2007 c 140 s 4; 1999 c …
RCW 46.37.423 Pneumatic passenger car tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
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No person, firm, or corporation shall sell or offer for sale for use on the public highways of this state any new pneumatic passenger car tire which does not meet the standards established by federal motor vehicle safety standard No. 109, as promulgated by the United States depar…
RCW 46.37.424 Regrooved tires—Standards—Exception for off-highway use—Penalty.
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No person, firm, or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any regrooved tire or shall regroove any tire for use on the public highways of this state which does not meet the standard established by federal motor vehicle standard part 569—regrooved tires, as promulgated by the U…
RCW 46.37.425 Tires—Unsafe—State patrol's authority—Penalty.
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No person shall drive or move or cause to be driven or moved any vehicle, the tires of which have contact with the driving surface of the road, subject to registration in this state, upon the public highways of this state unless such vehicle is equipped with tires in safe operati…
RCW 46.37.427 Studded tire fee.
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Beginning July 1, 2016:(1)(a) In addition to all other fees imposed on the retail sale of tires, a five dollar fee is imposed on the retail sale of each new tire sold that contains studs. For the purposes of this subsection, "new tire sold that contains studs" means a tire that i…
RCW 46.37.430 Safety glazing—Sunscreening or coloring.
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(1)(a) No person may sell any motor vehicle as specified in this title, nor may any motor vehicle as specified in this title be registered unless such vehicle is equipped with safety glazing material of a type that meets or exceeds federal standards under 49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.205.(…
RCW 46.37.435 Unlawful installation of safety glazing or film sunscreening material, penalty—Unlawful purchase or sale of safety glazing or film sunscreening material installation services, penalty.
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(1) A person is guilty of unlawful installation of safety glazing or film sunscreening material if he or she knowingly installs safety glazing or film sunscreening material in violation of RCW 46.37.430. Installation includes both the original application of safety glazing or fil…
RCW 46.37.440 Flares or other warning devices required on certain vehicles.
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(1) No person may operate any motor truck, passenger bus, truck tractor, motor home, or travel trailer over eighty inches in overall width upon any highway outside the corporate limits of municipalities at any time unless there is carried in such vehicle the following equipment e…
RCW 46.37.450 Disabled vehicle—Display of warning devices.
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(1) Whenever any motor truck, passenger bus, truck tractor over eighty inches in overall width, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is disabled upon the traveled portion of any highway or the shoulder thereof outside any municipality at any time when lighted lamps are required …
RCW 46.37.465 Fuel system.
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(1) The fuel system shall be manufactured, installed, and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public. Fuel tanks shall be equipped with approved caps.(2) There shall be no signs of leakage from the carburetor or the fuel pump or the f…
RCW 46.37.467 Alternative fuel source—Placard required.
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(1) Every automobile, truck, motorcycle, motor home, or off-road vehicle that is fueled by an alternative fuel source must bear a reflective placard issued by the national fire protection association indicating that the vehicle is so fueled. Violation of this subsection is a traf…
RCW 46.37.470 Air conditioning equipment.
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(1) "Air conditioning equipment," as used or referred to in this section, means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment that is used to cool the driver's or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle.(2) Air conditioning equipment must be manufactured, installed, and…
RCW 46.37.480 Headsets, earphones.
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(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and…
RCW 46.37.490 Safety load chains and devices required.
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It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle upon the public highways of this state without having the load thereon securely fastened and protected by safety chains or other device. The chief of the Washington state patrol is hereby authorized to adopt and enforce reasonable rules…
RCW 46.37.495 Safety chains for towing.
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(1) "Safety chains" means flexible tension members connected from the front portion of the towed vehicle to the rear portion of the towing vehicle for the purpose of retaining connection between towed and towing vehicle in the event of failure of the connection provided by the pr…
RCW 46.37.500 Fenders or splash aprons.
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(1) Except as authorized under subsection (2) of this section, no person may operate any motor vehicle, trailer, cargo extension, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the…
RCW 46.37.505 Child passenger restraint systems.
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The state patrol shall adopt standards for the performance, design, and installation of passenger restraint systems for children less than five years old and shall approve those systems which meet its standards.[ 1987 c 330 s 728; 1983 c 215 s 1.]Notes:Construction—Application of…
RCW 46.37.510 Seat belts and shoulder harnesses.
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(1) No person may sell any automobile manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, nor may any owner cause such vehicle to be registered thereafter under the provisions of chapter 46.12 RCW unless such motor car or automobile is equipped with automobile seat belts installed f…
RCW 46.37.513 Bumpers.
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When any motor vehicle was originally equipped with bumpers or any other collision energy absorption or attenuation system, that system shall be maintained in good operational condition, and no person shall remove or disconnect, and no owner shall cause or knowingly permit the re…
RCW 46.37.517 Body and body hardware.
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(1) The body, fenders, and bumpers shall be maintained without protrusions which could be hazardous to pedestrians. In addition, the bumpers shall be so attached and maintained so as to not protrude beyond the original bumper line.(2) The hood, hood latches, hood fastenings, door…
RCW 46.37.518 Street rod, custom, and kit vehicles—Optional and required equipment.
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Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, hoods and bumpers are optional equipment on street rod vehicles, custom vehicles, and kit vehicles. Street rod vehicles, custom vehicles, and kit vehicles must comply with fender requirements under RCW 46.37.500(2) and the windshi…
RCW 46.37.5185 Street rod and custom vehicles—Blue dot taillights.
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A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot taillights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors. For the purposes of this section, "blue dot taillight" means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or p…
RCW 46.37.519 Kit vehicles.
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(1) For the purposes of this section:(a) "Kit vehicle" means a passenger car or light truck assembled from a manufactured kit, and is either (i) a kit consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis used to construct a complete vehicle, or (ii) a kit consisting of a prefabricated …
RCW 46.37.520 Beach vehicles with soft tires—"Dune buggies"—Inspection and approval required—Fee.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to lease for hire or permit the use of any vehicle with soft tires commonly used upon the beach and referred to as a dune buggy unless such vehicle has been inspected by and approved by the state patrol, which may charge a reasonable fee theref…
RCW 46.37.522 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—When head lamps and tail lamps to be lighted.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have its head lamps and tail lamps lighted whenever such vehicle is in motion upon a highway.[ 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 45.]Notes:Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule—IRLJ 6.2.Severability—1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37…
RCW 46.37.523 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
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(1) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one lamp which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this section.(2) Every head lamp upon every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be located at a height of not more than fifty…
RCW 46.37.524 Motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
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The head lamp or head lamps upon every motor-driven cycle may be of the single-beam or multiple-beam type but in either event shall comply with the requirements and limitations as follows:(1) Every such head lamp or head lamps on a motor-driven cycle shall be of a sufficient inte…
RCW 46.37.525 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Tail lamps, reflectors, and stop lamps.
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(1) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have at least one tail lamp which shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two nor less than fifteen inches.(2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white li…
RCW 46.37.527 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Brake requirements.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must comply with the provisions of RCW 46.37.351, except that:(1) Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles need not be equipped with parking brakes;(2) The wheel of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle or to a motor-driven cycle, and the front whe…
RCW 46.37.528 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Performance ability of brakes.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service brake, shall be capable of:(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than forty-three and one-half percent of its gross weight;(2) Decelerating to a st…
RCW 46.37.529 Motor-driven cycles—Braking system inspection.
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(1) The state patrol is authorized to require an inspection of the braking system on any motor-driven cycle and to disapprove any such braking system on a vehicle which it finds will not comply with the performance ability standard set forth in RCW 46.37.351, or which in its opin…
RCW 46.37.530 Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, electric-assisted bicycles—Helmets, other equipment—Children—Rules.
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(1) It is unlawful:(a) For any person to operate a motorcycle, moped, or motor-driven cycle not equipped with mirrors on the left and right sides which shall be so located as to give the driver a complete view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear…
RCW 46.37.535 Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds—Helmet requirements when rented.
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It is unlawful for any person to rent out motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds unless the person also has on hand for rent helmets of a type conforming to rules adopted by the state patrol.It shall be unlawful for any person to rent a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or mop…
RCW 46.37.537 Motorcycles—Exhaust system.
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No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motorcycle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motorcy…
RCW 46.37.539 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Additional requirements and limitations.
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Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall also comply with the requirements and limitations of:RCW 46.37.380 on horns and warning devices;RCW 46.37.390 on mufflers and prevention of noise;RCW 46.37.400 on mirrors; andRCW 46.37.420 on tires.[ 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 53.]Notes…
RCW 46.37.540 Odometers—Disconnecting, resetting, or turning back prohibited.
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(1) The legislature intends to make it illegal for persons to turn forward the odometer on a new car to avoid compliance with the emissions standards required by chapter 295, Laws of 2005.(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to disconnect, turn back, turn forward, or reset the…
RCW 46.37.550 Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer turned back unlawful.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a motor vehicle in this state if such person has knowledge that the odometer on such motor vehicle has been turned back and if such person fails to notify the buyer, prior to the time of sale, that the odometer has been turned back or t…
RCW 46.37.560 Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer replaced unlawful.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a motor vehicle in this state if such person has knowledge that the odometer on such motor vehicle has been replaced with another odometer and if such person fails to notify the buyer, prior to the time of sale, that the odometer has be…
RCW 46.37.570 Odometers—Selling, advertising, using, or installing device registering false mileage.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to advertise for sale, to sell, to use, or to install on any part of a motor vehicle or on an odometer in a motor vehicle any device which causes the odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage driven. For the purposes of this …
RCW 46.37.590 Odometers—Purchaser plaintiff to recover costs and attorney's fee, when.
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In any suit brought by the purchaser of a motor vehicle against the seller of such vehicle, the purchaser shall be entitled to recover his or her court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court, if: (1) The suit or claim is based substantially upon the purchaser's …
RCW 46.37.600 Liability of operator, owner, lessee for violations.
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Whenever an act or omission is declared to be unlawful in chapter 46.37 RCW, if the operator of the vehicle is not the owner or lessee of such vehicle, but is so operating or moving the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner or lessee, then the operator and/o…
RCW 46.37.610 Wheelchair conveyance standards.
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The state patrol shall adopt rules for wheelchair conveyance safety standards. Operation of a wheelchair conveyance that is in violation of these standards is a traffic infraction.[ 1987 c 330 s 734; 1983 c 200 s 4.]Notes:Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330:…
RCW 46.37.620 School buses—Crossing arms.
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Effective September 1, 1992, every school bus shall, in addition to any other equipment required by this chapter, be equipped with a crossing arm mounted to the bus that, when extended, will require students who are crossing in front of the bus to walk more than five feet from th…