Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

(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…

(1) Every traffic enforcement agency in this state shall provide in appropriate form traffic citations containing notices to appear which shall be issued in books with citations in quadruplicate and meeting the requirements of this section, or issued by an electronic device capab…

Whenever any person is arrested for any violation of the traffic laws or regulations which is punishable as a misdemeanor or by imposition of a fine, the arresting officer may serve upon him or her a traffic citation and notice to appear in court. Such citation and notice shall c…

Whenever any person fails to respond to a notice of traffic infraction for a moving violation, fails to appear at a hearing for a moving violation, or fails to comply with the terms of a criminal complaint or criminal citation for a moving violation, the court with jurisdiction o…

The provisions of this title with regard to the apprehension and arrest of persons violating this title shall govern all police officers in making arrests without a warrant for violations of this title for offenses either committed in their presence or believed to have been commi…

Any nonresident of the state of Washington who is issued a notice of infraction or a citation for a traffic offense may be required to post either a bond or cash security in the amount of the infraction penalty or to post bail. The court shall by January 1, 1990, accept, in lieu …

(1)(a) A nonresident accepts the rights and privileges conferred by law in the use of the public highways of this state, as evidenced by:(i) Operation of a vehicle thereon; or(ii) The operation thereon of the nonresident's vehicle with the nonresident's consent, express or implie…

Every person who commits, attempts to commit, conspires to commit, or aids or abets in the commission of any act declared by this title to be a traffic infraction or a crime, whether individually or in connection with one or more other persons or as principal, agent, or accessory…

It is a traffic infraction for any person to violate any of the provisions of this title unless violation is by this title or other law of this state declared to be a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor.Unless another penalty is in this title provided, every person conv…

(1) In addition to any other penalties imposed for conviction of a violation of this title that is a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony, the court shall impose an additional penalty of fifty dollars. The court may not reduce, waive, or suspend the additional penalty unless…

The purpose of RCW 46.64.060 and 46.64.070 is to provide for the exercise of the police power of this state to protect the health and safety of its citizens by assuring that only qualified drivers and vehicles which meet minimum equipment standards shall operate upon the highways…

To carry out the purpose of RCW 46.64.060 and 46.64.070, officers of the Washington state patrol are hereby empowered during daylight hours and while using plainly marked state patrol vehicles to require the driver of any motor vehicle being operated on any highway of this state …

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the state of Washington:(1) To provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the public highways of this state; and(2) To deny the privilege of operating motor vehicles on such highways to persons who by their conduct…

As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, an habitual offender means any person, resident or nonresident, who has accumulated convictions or findings that the person committed a traffic infraction as defined in RCW 46.20.270, or, if a…

The director of the department of licensing shall certify a transcript or abstract of the record of convictions and findings of traffic infractions as maintained by the department of licensing of any person whose record brings him or her within the definition of an habitual offen…

If the department finds that such person is not an habitual offender under this chapter, the proceeding shall be dismissed, but if the department finds that such person is an habitual offender, the department shall revoke the operator's license for a period of seven years: PROVID…

(1) Whenever a person's driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing by certified mail at his or…

No license to operate motor vehicles in Washington shall be issued to an habitual offender (1) for a period of seven years from the date of the license revocation except as provided in RCW 46.65.080, and (2) until the privilege of such person to operate a motor vehicle in this st…

At the end of four years, the habitual offender may petition the department of licensing for the return of his or her operator's license and upon good and sufficient showing, the department of licensing may, wholly or conditionally, reinstate the privilege of such person to opera…

At the expiration of seven years from the date of any final order finding a person to be an habitual offender and directing him or her not to operate a motor vehicle in this state, such person may petition the department of licensing for restoration of his or her privilege to ope…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as amending, modifying, or repealing any existing law of Washington or any existing ordinance of any political subdivision relating to the operation or licensing of motor vehicles, the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles or pr…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Washington Habitual Traffic Offenders Act."[ 1971 ex.s. c 284 s 18.]Notes:Severability—1971 ex.s. c 284: See note following RCW 46.65.010.

(1) The Washington auto theft prevention authority is established. The authority shall consist of the following members, appointed by the governor:(a) The executive director of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, or the executive director's designee;(b) The …

(1) The Washington auto theft prevention authority shall initially convene at the call of the executive director of the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, or the executive director's designee, no later than the third Monday in January 2008. Subsequent meetings …

(1) The Washington auto theft prevention authority may obtain or contract for staff services, including an executive director, and any facilities and equipment as the authority requires to carry out its duties.(2) The director may enter into contracts with any public or private o…

The Washington auto theft prevention authority may solicit and accept gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources to support its activities.[ 2007 c 199 s 23.]

The governor may remove any member of the Washington auto theft prevention authority for cause including but not limited to neglect of duty, misconduct, malfeasance or misfeasance in office, or upon written request of two-thirds of the members of the authority under this chapter.…

Members of the Washington auto theft prevention authority who are not public employees shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.250 and shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in carrying out the duties of the authority in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03…

Any member serving in their official capacity on the Washington auto theft prevention authority, or either their employer or employers, or other entity that selected the members to serve, are immune from a civil action based upon an act performed in good faith.[ 2007 c 199 s 26.]

(1) The Washington auto theft prevention authority account is created in the state treasury, subject to appropriation. Revenues consist of deposits to the account under RCW 48.14.020(1)(b) and all receipts from gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and priv…

See notes following RCW 9A.56.065.