Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

It is the legislative intent in the adoption of this chapter in decriminalizing certain traffic offenses to promote the public safety and welfare on public highways and to facilitate the implementation of a uniform and expeditious system for the disposition of traffic infractions…

Failure to perform any act required or the performance of any act prohibited by this title or an equivalent administrative regulation or local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution relating to traffic including parking, standing, stopping, and pedestrian offenses, is designat…

(1) A law enforcement officer has the authority to issue a notice of traffic infraction:(a) When the infraction is committed in the officer's presence, except as provided in RCW 46.09.485;(b) When the officer is acting upon the request of a law enforcement officer in whose presen…

(1) All violations of state law, local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution designated as traffic infractions in RCW 46.63.020 may be heard and determined by a district court, except as otherwise provided in this section.(2) Any municipal court has the authority to hear and …

All judges and court commissioners adjudicating traffic infractions shall complete such training requirements as are promulgated by the supreme court.[ 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 7.]Notes:Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.

(1) A notice of traffic infraction represents a determination that an infraction has been committed. The determination will be final unless contested as provided in this chapter.(2) The form for the notice of traffic infraction shall be prescribed by rule of the supreme court and…

(1) Any person who receives a notice of traffic infraction shall respond to such notice as provided in this section within 30 days of the date of the notice.(2) If the person determined to have committed the infraction does not contest the determination the person shall respond b…

(1) In the event a traffic infraction is based on a vehicle's identification, and the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car business, the law enforcement agency shall, before a notice of infraction may be issued, provide a written notice to the rental car business that …

(1) In a traffic infraction case involving an infraction detected through the use of an automated traffic safety camera under RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260, detected through the use of a speed safety camera system under RCW 46.63.200, or detected through the use of an automated…

(1) Procedures for the conduct of all hearings provided for in this chapter may be established by rule of the supreme court.(2) Any person subject to proceedings under this chapter may be represented by counsel.(3) The attorney representing the state, county, city, or town may ap…

(1) A hearing held for the purpose of contesting the determination that an infraction has been committed shall be without a jury.(2) The court may consider the notice of traffic infraction and any other written report made under oath submitted by the officer who issued the notice…

(1) A hearing held for the purpose of allowing a person to explain mitigating circumstances surrounding the commission of an infraction shall be an informal proceeding. The person may not subpoena witnesses. The determination that an infraction has been committed may not be conte…

A city attorney, county prosecutor, or other prosecuting authority may not dismiss, amend, or agree not to file an infraction in exchange for a contribution, donation, or payment to any person, corporation, or organization. This does not prohibit:(1) Contribution, donation, or pa…

(1)(a) A person found to have committed a traffic infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty. No penalty may exceed $250 for each offense unless authorized by this chapter or title.(b) The court may waive or remit any monetary penalty, fee, cost, assessment, or other monetar…

(1) An order entered after the receipt of a response which does not contest the determination, or after it has been established at a hearing that the infraction was committed, or after a hearing for the purpose of explaining mitigating circumstances is civil in nature.(2) The cou…

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law governing service of process in civil cases, a court of limited jurisdiction having jurisdiction over an alleged traffic infraction may issue process anywhere within the state.[ 1980 c 128 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—Severability—1980 c 1…

(1) In any traffic infraction case involving a violation of this title or equivalent administrative regulation or local law, ordinance, regulation, or resolution relating to the stopping, standing, or parking of a vehicle, proof that the particular vehicle described in the notice…

Each party to a traffic infraction case is responsible for costs incurred by that party. No costs or attorney fees may be awarded to either party in a traffic infraction case, except as provided for in RCW 46.30.020(2).[ 1991 sp.s. c 25 s 3; 1981 c 19 s 4.]Notes:Severability—1981…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2711-S.SL) ***(1) This section applies only to civil penalties for nonpayment of tolls detected through use of photo toll systems.(2) Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer from issuing a notice of traffic infraction to a person in…

(1) School districts may install and operate automated school bus safety cameras on school buses to be used for the detection of violations of RCW 46.61.370(1) if the use of the cameras is approved by a vote of the school district board of directors. School districts are not requ…

(1)(a) A person may request a payment plan at any time for the payment of any monetary penalty, fee, cost, assessment, or other monetary obligation associated with a traffic infraction. If the person does not have the ability to pay the monetary obligation in full, the person has…

(1) This section applies to the use of speed safety camera systems in state highway work zones.(2) Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer from issuing a notice of infraction to a person in control of a vehicle at the time a violation occurs under RCW 46.63.03…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6066-S2.SL) ***The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Automated traffic safety camera" means a device that uses a vehicle sensor installed to …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6066-S2.SL) ***(1) Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer from issuing a notice of traffic infraction to a person in control of a vehicle at the time a violation occurs under RCW 46.63.030(1) (a), (b), or (c).(2) Any city or county…

(1) Automated traffic safety cameras may be used to detect stoplight violations, subject to RCW 46.63.220.(2) Automated traffic safety cameras used to detect stoplight violations are restricted to intersections of two or more arterials with traffic control signals that have yello…

(1) Automated traffic safety cameras may be used to detect railroad grade crossing violations, subject to RCW 46.63.220.(2) Automated traffic safety cameras at railroad grade crossings may be used only to detect instances when a vehicle fails to stop when facing an activated rail…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6066-S2.SL) ***(1) Automated traffic safety cameras may be used to detect speed violations, subject to RCW 46.63.220.(2) Automated traffic safety cameras may be used to detect speed violations within the following locations:(a) Hospital speed zones;(b)…

(1)(a) Subject to RCW 46.63.220 and as limited in this subsection, automated traffic safety cameras may be used in cities with populations of more than 500,000 residents to detect one or more of the following violations:(i) Stopping when traffic obstructed violations;(ii) Stoppin…