Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

"Seattle NHL hockey special license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the national hockey league team based in Seattle.[ 2020 c 129 s 4.]Notes:Effective date—2020 c 129: See note following RCW 46.17.220.

"Seattle Reign FC license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the Seattle Reign FC.[ 2025 c 385 s 17.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300.Short title—2025 c 385: See note following RCW 46.1…

"Seattle Seahawks license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the Seattle Seahawks.[ 2013 c 286 s 7.]Notes:Effective date—2013 c 286: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Seattle Sounders FC license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing Seattle Sounders FC.[ 2013 c 286 s 6.]Notes:Effective date—2013 c 286: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Seattle University license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing Seattle University.[ 2014 c 6 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—2014 c 6: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Secured party" has the same meaning as in *RCW 62A.1-201.[ 2010 c 161 s 140.]Notes:*Reviser's note: The reference to RCW 62A.1-201 appears to be erroneous. Reference to RCW 62A.9A-102 was apparently intended.Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 201…

"Security interest" has the same meaning as in RCW 62A.1-201.[ 2010 c 161 s 141.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.

"Semitrailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor and so constructed that an appreciable part of its weight and that of its load rests upon and is carried by such other vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tra…

"Share the road license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education. Share the road license plates commemorate the life of Cooper Jones.[ 2010 c 161 s 142.]Notes:Effective dat…

"Sidewalk" means that property between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property, set aside and intended for the use of pedestrians or such portion of private property parallel and in proximity to a public highway and dedicated to use by pedestria…

"Ski & ride Washington license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol or artwork recognizing the Washington snowsports industry.[ 2010 c 161 s 143.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during th…

"Smokey Bear license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear promoting wildfire prevention and the state department of natural resources' wildland wildfire program.[ 2025 c 385 s 14.]Notes:Effective…

"Snow bike" means a motorcycle or off-road motorcycle that has been modified with a conversion kit to include (1) an endless belt tread or cleats or similar means for the purposes of propulsion on snow and (2) a ski or sled type runner for the purposes of steering.[ 2019 c 262 s …

"Snowmobile" means a self-propelled vehicle that is capable of traveling over snow or ice that (1) utilizes as its means of propulsion an endless belt tread or cleats, or any combination of these or other similar means of contact with the surface upon which it is operated, (2) is…

"Solid tire" includes every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon inflation with compressed air for the support of the load thereon.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.550. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 59; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 19…

(1) "Special highway construction equipment" means any vehicle that is (a) designed and used primarily for the grading of highways, the paving of highways, earthmoving, and other construction work on highways, (b) not designed or used primarily to transport persons or property on…

"Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved over a highway, including but not limited to: Ditch digging apparatus, well boring apparatus and road construction a…

"Sport utility vehicle" means a high performance motor vehicle weighing six thousand pounds or less, designed to carry ten passengers or less or designated as a sport utility vehicle by the manufacturer.[ 2010 c 161 s 146.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chap…

"Square dancer license plates" means special license plates displaying a symbol of square dancers.[ 2010 c 161 s 147.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes…

"Stand or standing" means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.[ 1975 c 62 s 10.]Notes:Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.

"Standard issue license plates" means license plates that are held for general issue, and does not mean personalized license plates or any other special license plate.[ 2010 c 161 s 148.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amen…

"State flower license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the Washington state flower.[ 2012 c 65 s 3.]Notes:Effective date—2012 c 65: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"State highway" includes every highway or part thereof, which has been designated as a state highway or branch thereof, by legislative enactment.[ 1975 c 62 s 7; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.560. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 60; prior: 1929 c 180 s 1, part; 1927 c 309 s 2, part; RRS s 6362-2, part.]N…

"State sport license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that recognize the state sport of pickleball.[ 2025 c 385 s 16.]Notes:Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300.Short title—2025 c 385: See note following RCW 46.18.060.

"Stop" when required means complete cessation from movement.[ 1975 c 62 s 11.]Notes:Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.

"Stop or stopping" when prohibited means any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control sign or signal.[ 1975 c 62 s 12.]Not…

"Streetcar" means a vehicle other than a train for transporting persons or property and operated upon stationary rails principally within cities and towns.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.570. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 61; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312…

"Street rod vehicle" means a motor vehicle that:(1) Is a 1948 or older vehicle or the vehicle was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949; and(2) Has alterations to one or more of the major component parts listed in RCW 46.80.010 that change the app…

"Subagency" means the licensing office in which vehicle title and registration functions are carried out by a subagent.[ 2010 c 161 s 149.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—…

"Subagent" means a person or governmental entity recommended by a county auditor or other agent and who is appointed by the director to provide vehicle registration and certificate of title services under contract with the county auditor or other agent.[ 2010 c 161 s 150.]Notes:E…

"Suspend," in all its forms and unless a different period is specified, means invalidation for any period less than one calendar year and thereafter until reinstatement.[ 1994 c 275 s 28; 1990 c 250 s 22; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.580. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 62; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, pa…

"Tab" or "license tab" means a sticker issued by the department and affixed to the rear license plate to identify the vehicle license expiration month and year for a specific vehicle.[ 2010 c 161 s 151.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 201…

"Tandem axle" means any two or more consecutive axles whose centers are less than seven feet apart.[ 1988 c 6 s 1; 1979 ex.s. c 149 s 2.]

"Temporarily sojourning," as the term is used in chapter 46.04 RCW, shall be construed to include any nonresident who is within this state for a period of not to exceed six months in any one year.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.585. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 63; prior: 1955 c 89 s 6.]

"Temporary license plate" means a plate or placard that may be issued to a vehicle owner by the department or by an authorized entity for the purposes of temporary vehicle licensing.[ 2022 c 132 s 2.]Notes:Effective date—2022 c 132: See note following RCW 46.04.2701.

"Temporary operating authority" means a paper or electronic credential issued under chapter 46.87 RCW that conforms with the international registration plan requirements for temporary evidence of apportioned registration.[ 2022 c 132 s 3.]Notes:Effective date—2022 c 132: See note…

"THC concentration" means nanograms of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliter of a person's whole blood. THC concentration does not include measurement of the metabolite THC-COOH, also known as carboxy-THC.[ 2013 c 3 s 3 (Initiative Measure No. 502, approved November 6, 2012…

"Total loss vehicle" means a vehicle that has been reported to the department as destroyed by an insurance company, self-insurer, or the vehicle owner or the owner's authorized representative.[ 2010 c 161 s 152.]Notes:Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, La…

"Tow dolly" means a trailer equipped with between one and three axles designed to connect to a tow bar on the rear of a motor vehicle that is used to tow another vehicle. The front or rear wheels of the towed vehicle are secured to and rest on the tow dolly.[ 2010 c 161 s 153.]No…

"Tracked all-terrain vehicle" means any "wheeled all-terrain vehicle" as defined in RCW 46.09.310 and weighing less than two thousand pounds in stock configuration, with tracks or a combination of tracks and skis installed in place of the standard low-pressure tires.[ 2021 c 86 s…

"Traffic" includes pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together, while using any public highways for purposes of travel.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.590. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 64; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1,…

"Traffic control signal" means any traffic device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic alternately is directed to stop or proceed or otherwise controlled.[ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.600. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 65; prior: 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360…

Official traffic-control devices means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with Title 46 RCW placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.[ 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 88.]

"Trailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed for being drawn by or used in conjunction with a motor vehicle constructed so that no appreciable part of its weight rests upon or is carried by such motor vehicle, but does not include a municipal transit vehicle, or…

"Transit permit" means a document that authorizes a person to operate a vehicle on a public highway of this state solely for the purpose of obtaining the necessary documentation to complete and apply for a Washington certificate of title or vehicle registration. Unlimited use of …

"Park trailer" or "park model trailer" means a travel trailer designed to be used with temporary connections to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures and appliances. The trailer's gross area shall not exceed four hundred square feet when in the setup mode. "Park…

"Share the Road license plates" means license plates that commemorate the life of Cooper Jones and display a symbol of an organization that promote[s] bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington.[ 2005 c 426 s 2.]

"Signal preemption device" means a device that is capable of altering the normal operation of a traffic control signal. Any such device manufactured by a vehicle manufacturer is not a signal preemption device for purposes of this section if the primary purpose of the device is an…

"Ski & Ride Washington license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of the Washington snowsports industry in this state.[ 2011 c 171 s 18; 2005 c 220 s 2.]Notes:Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes…

"Travel trailer" means a trailer built on a single chassis transportable upon the public streets and highways that is designed to be used as a temporary dwelling without a permanent foundation and may be used without being connected to utilities.[ 1989 c 337 s 3.]