Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES
54 chapters · 1,673 sections in this title.
RCW 46.61.640 Crossing fire hose.
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No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a fire department when laid down on any street, or private driveway, to be used at any fire or alarm of fire, without the consent of the fire department official in command.[ 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 76.]
RCW 46.61.645 Throwing materials on highway prohibited—Removal.
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(1) Any person who drops, or permits to be dropped or thrown, upon any highway any material shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed.(2) Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped …
RCW 46.61.655 Dropping load, other materials—Covering.
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(1) No vehicle shall be driven or moved on any public highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom, except that sand may be dropped for the purpose of securing traction.(2) N…
RCW 46.61.660 Carrying persons or animals on outside part of vehicle.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to transport any living animal on the running board, fenders, hood, or other outside part of any vehicle unless suitable harness, cage or enclosure be provided and so attached as to protect such animal from falling or being thrown therefrom. It…
RCW 46.61.665 Embracing another while driving.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state when such person has in his or her embrace another person which prevents the free and unhampered operation of such vehicle. Operation of a motor vehicle in violation of this section is …
RCW 46.61.670 Driving with wheels off roadway.
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It shall be unlawful to operate or drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles over or along any pavement or gravel or crushed rock surface on a public highway with one wheel or all of the wheels off the roadway thereof, except as permitted by RCW 46.61.428 or for the purpose of…
RCW 46.61.672 Using a personal electronic device while driving.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6066-S2.SL) ***(1) A person who uses a personal electronic device while driving a motor vehicle on a public highway is guilty of a traffic infraction and must pay a fine as provided in RCW 46.63.110(3).(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply …
RCW 46.61.673 Dangerously distracted driving.
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(1)(a) It is a traffic infraction to drive dangerously distracted. Any driver who commits this infraction must be assessed a base penalty of thirty dollars.(b) Enforcement of the infraction of driving dangerously distracted may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a dr…
RCW 46.61.675 Causing or permitting vehicle to be unlawfully operated.
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It shall be unlawful for the owner, or any other person, in employing or otherwise directing the operator of any vehicle to require or knowingly to permit the operation of such vehicle upon any public highway in any manner contrary to the law.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.56.200. Prior: 1937 …
RCW 46.61.680 Lowering passenger vehicle below legal clearance—Penalty.
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It is unlawful to operate any passenger motor vehicle which has been modified from the original design so that any portion of such passenger vehicle other than the wheels has less clearance from the surface of a level roadway than the clearance between the roadway and the lowermo…
RCW 46.61.685 Leaving children unattended in standing vehicle with motor running—Penalty.
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(1) It is unlawful for any person, while operating or in charge of a vehicle, to park or willfully allow such vehicle to stand upon a public highway or in a public place with its motor running, leaving a minor child or children under the age of sixteen years unattended in the veh…
RCW 46.61.687 Child restraint system required—Conditions—Exceptions—Penalty for violation—Dismissal—Noncompliance not negligence—Immunity.
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(1) Whenever a child who is less than sixteen years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle that is in operation and that is required by RCW 46.37.510 to be equipped with a safety belt system in a passenger seating position, or is being transported in a neighborhood electr…
RCW 46.61.6871 Child passenger safety technician—Immunity.
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A person who has a current national certification as a child passenger safety technician and who in good faith provides inspection, adjustment, or educational services regarding child passenger restraint systems is not liable for civil damages resulting from any act or omission i…
RCW 46.61.688 Safety belts, use required—Penalties—Exemptions.
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(1) For the purposes of this section, "motor vehicle" includes:(a) "Buses," meaning motor vehicles with motive power, except trailers, designed to carry more than ten passengers;(b) "Medium-speed electric vehicle" meaning a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor …
RCW 46.61.6885 Child restraints, seat belts—Educational campaign.
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The traffic safety commission shall conduct an educational campaign using all available methods to raise public awareness of the importance of properly restraining child passengers and the value of seat belts to adult motorists. The traffic safety commission shall report to the t…
RCW 46.61.690 Violations relating to toll facilities—Exception.
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(1) Any person who uses a toll bridge, toll tunnel, toll road, or toll ferry, and the approaches thereto, operated by the state of Washington, the department of transportation, a political subdivision or municipal corporation empowered to operate toll facilities, or an entity ope…
RCW 46.61.700 Parent or guardian shall not authorize or permit violation by a child or ward.
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The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.[ 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 78.]Notes:Reviser's note: This section was enacted just before sections about the operation of…
RCW 46.61.705 Off-road motorcycles.
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(1) A person may operate an off-road motorcycle upon a public road, street, or highway of this state if the person:(a) Files a motorcycle highway use declaration, as provided under RCW 46.16A.435, with the department certifying conformance with all applicable federal motor vehicl…
RCW 46.61.708 Motorcycles previously converted as snow bikes.
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A person may operate a motorcycle, that previously had been converted to a snow bike, upon a public road, street, or highway of this state if:(1) The person files a motorcycle highway use declaration, as provided under RCW 46.16A.460, with the department certifying conformance wi…
RCW 46.61.710 Mopeds, EPAMDs, motorized foot scooters, personal delivery devices, electric-assisted bicycles, class 1 electric-assisted bicycles, class 2 electric-assisted bicycles, class 3 electric-assisted bicycles—General requirements and operation.
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(1) No person shall operate a moped upon the highways of this state unless the moped has been assigned a moped registration number and displays a moped permit in accordance with RCW 46.16A.405(2).(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a moped may not be operated on a bic…
RCW 46.61.715 Motorized foot scooters and shared scooters—Local authority may regulate—Contracts offered by scooter share programs to scooter share contractors—Written disclosure.
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(1) A local authority may regulate the operation of motorized foot scooters and shared scooters within its jurisdiction which may include, but is not limited to, the following:(a) Determining if shared scooters may be operated within the local authority's jurisdiction, and if all…
RCW 46.61.720 Mopeds—Safety standards.
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Mopeds shall comply with those federal motor vehicle safety standards established under the national traffic vehicle safety act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 1381, et seq.) which are applicable to a motor-driven cycle, as that term is defined in such federal standards.[ 1979 ex.s. c 21…
RCW 46.61.723 Medium-speed electric vehicles.
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(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, a person may operate a medium-speed electric vehicle upon a highway of this state having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less, or forty-five miles per hour or less as provided in subsection (4) of this secti…
RCW 46.61.725 Neighborhood electric vehicles.
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(1) Absent prohibition by local authorities authorized under this section and except as prohibited elsewhere in this section, a person may operate a neighborhood electric vehicle upon a highway of this state having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less, or forty-fiv…
RCW 46.61.730 Wheelchair conveyances.
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(1) No person may operate a wheelchair conveyance on any public roadway with a posted speed limit in excess of thirty-five miles per hour.(2) No person other than a wheelchair-bound person may operate a wheelchair conveyance on a public roadway.(3) Every wheelchair-bound person o…
RCW 46.61.733 Personal delivery device.
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For the purposes of this chapter, "personal delivery device" has the same meaning as in RCW 46.75.010.[ 2019 c 214 s 8.]Notes:Effective date—2019 c 214: See note following RCW 46.75.010.
RCW 46.61.734 Intelligent speed assistance device—Court shall impose use.
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When sentencing a person convicted of any criminal offense under this chapter or a violation of any other provision of law that constitutes a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony, the court may impose, as a condition of probation, a requirement regarding the installation and…
RCW 46.61.735 Ferry queues—Violations—Exemptions.
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(1) It is a traffic infraction for a driver of a motor vehicle intending to board a Washington state ferry, to: (a) Block a residential driveway while waiting to board the ferry; or (b) move in front of another vehicle in a queue already waiting to board the ferry, without the au…
RCW 46.61.740 Theft of motor vehicle fuel.
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(1) Any person who refuses to pay or evades payment for motor vehicle fuel that is pumped into a motor vehicle is guilty of theft of motor vehicle fuel. A violation of this subsection is a gross misdemeanor punishable under chapter 9A.20 RCW.(2) The court shall order the departme…
RCW 46.61.745 Possessing or consuming cannabis in vehicle on highway—Penalty, exceptions—Definition.
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(1)(a) It is a traffic infraction:(i) For the registered owner of a motor vehicle, or the driver if the registered owner is not then present, or passengers in the vehicle, to keep cannabis in a motor vehicle when the vehicle is upon a highway, unless it is (A) in the trunk of the…
RCW 46.61.747 Illegal racing—Public education campaigns.
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Subject to funds appropriated for this purpose, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to undertake a public education campaign to inform the public of the unlawful nature of illegal racing; the dangers such events pose to attendants, participants, and the general public; and th…
RCW 46.61.748 Racing—Impoundment.
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(1) A vehicle used to commit the crime of racing is subject to impoundment as provided for in chapter 46.55 RCW.(2) If an operator has previously had a vehicle impounded due to illegal racing conduct, regardless of whether a criminal charge or a conviction resulted from that cond…
RCW 46.61.750 Effect of regulations—Penalty.
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(1) It is a traffic infraction for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780.(2) These regulations applicable to bicycles apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any bicycle path, subject to tho…
RCW 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.
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(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780, except as provided in RCW 46.6…
RCW 46.61.758 Hand signals.
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All hand signals required of persons operating bicycles shall be given in the following manner:(1) Left turn. Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle;(2) Right turn. Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and…
RCW 46.61.760 Riding on bicycles.
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(1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.(2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.[ 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 81.]Notes:Rules of c…
RCW 46.61.765 Clinging to vehicles.
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No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway.[ 2010 c 8 s 9076; 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 82.]Notes:Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule—IRLJ 6.2.
RCW 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.
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(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except:(a) While preparing to make or while making turning moveme…
RCW 46.61.775 Carrying articles.
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No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.[ 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 84.]Notes:Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule—IRLJ 6.2.
RCW 46.61.780 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
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(1) Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type appro…
RCW 46.61.790 Intoxicated bicyclists.
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(1) A law enforcement officer may offer to transport a bicycle rider who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or any drug and who is walking or moving along or within the right-of-way of a public roadway, unless the bicycle rider is to be taken into protective custody und…