Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES

(1) The board shall establish the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities advisory committee to provide advice regarding the administration of this chapter. The committee consists of governmental representatives, land managers, and a proportional representation of persons with…

The operator of any nonhighway vehicle involved in any accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or property damage to another to an apparent extent equal to or greater than the minimum amount established by rule adopted by the chief of the Washington state patrol i…

(1) Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter, any city, town, county, or other political subdivision of this state, or any state agency, may regulate the operation of nonhighway vehicles on public lands, waters, and other properties under its jurisdiction, and on str…

The board shall maintain a statewide plan which shall be updated at least once every third biennium and shall be used by all participating agencies to guide distribution and expenditure of funds under this chapter.[ 2007 c 241 s 18; 1986 c 206 s 11; 1977 ex.s. c 220 s 18. Formerl…

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by all persons having the authority to enforce any of the laws of this state, including, without limitation, officers of the state patrol, county sheriffs and their deputies, all municipal law enforcement officers within their resp…

The department must track wheeled all-terrain vehicles in a separate registration category for reporting purposes.[ 2013 2nd sp.s. c 23 s 8.]Notes:Finding—Intent—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09.442.Effective date—2013 2nd sp.s. c 23: See note following RCW 46.09…

(1) It is the intent of the legislature to create a concurrent licensing process to allow the owner of a wheeled all-terrain vehicle to maintain concurrent but separate registrations for the vehicle, for use as a wheeled all-terrain vehicle and for use as a tracked all-terrain ve…

The department shall:(1) Issue registrations and temporary ORV use permits for off-road vehicles, excluding wheeled all-terrain vehicles subject to subsection (4) of this section;(2) Issue decals for off-road vehicles, excluding wheeled all-terrain vehicles subject to subsection …

(1)(a) The application for an original ORV registration has the same requirements as described for original vehicle registrations in RCW 46.16A.040 and, except as provided in (b) of this subsection, must be accompanied by the annual off-road vehicle license fee required under RCW…

ORV registrations and decals are required under this chapter except for the following:(1) Off-road vehicles owned and operated by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision of the United States or another state.(2) Off-road vehicles owned and operated by this st…

(1) The application for a temporary ORV use permit must be made by the owner or the owner's authorized representative to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form furnished or approved by the department. The application must co…

Except as provided in this chapter, a person shall not operate an off-road vehicle within this state unless the off-road vehicle has been assigned an ORV registration or temporary ORV use permit and displays current decals and tabs as required under this chapter.[ 2010 c 161 s 21…

(1) Any wheeled all-terrain vehicle operated within this state must display a metal tag to be affixed to the rear of the wheeled all-terrain vehicle. The initial metal tag must be issued with an original off-road vehicle registration and, except as provided in subsection (7) of t…

(1) A person may not operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon a public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, without (a) first obtaining a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents in compliance with chapter 46.20 RCW or (b) possessing a …

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is lawful to operate an off-road vehicle upon:(a) A nonhighway road and in parking areas serving designated off-road vehicle areas if the state, federal, local, or private authority responsible for the management of the nonhigh…

(1) A person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon any public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less subject to the following restrictions and requirements:(a) A person may not operate …

(1) A person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon any public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, subject to RCW 46.09.455 and the following equipment and declaration requirements:(a) A person who operates a wheeled all-terrain vehicle must …

(1) Except as specified in subsection (2) of this section, no person under sixteen years of age may operate an off-road vehicle on or across a highway or nonhighway road in this state without direct supervision of a person eighteen years of age or older possessing a valid license…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, it is a traffic infraction for any person to operate any nonhighway vehicle:(a) In such a manner as to endanger the property of another;(b) On lands not owned by the operator or owner of the nonhighway vehicle without a li…

(1) No person may operate a nonhighway vehicle in such a way as to endanger human life.(2) No person shall operate a nonhighway vehicle in such a way as to run down or harass any wildlife or animal, nor carry, transport, or convey any loaded weapon in or upon, nor hunt from, any …

(1) A person who operates a wheeled all-terrain vehicle consistent with RCW 46.09.470(1) (g), (h), or (i) or inconsistent with the emergency exemption under RCW 46.09.420 is [commits] a traffic infraction.(2) Any law enforcement officer may issue a notice of traffic infraction fo…

(1) Except as provided in RCW 46.09.470(2) and 46.09.480 as now or hereafter amended, violation of the provisions of this chapter is a traffic infraction for which a penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars may be imposed.(2) In addition to the penalties provided in subsectio…

(1) It is a gross misdemeanor, punishable as provided under chapter 9A.20 RCW, for a resident, as identified in RCW 46.16A.140, to:(a) Knowingly fail to apply for a Washington state certificate of title for, or to knowingly fail to register, an off-road vehicle within fifteen day…

Motor vehicle fuel excise taxes paid on fuel used and purchased for providing the motive power for nonhighway vehicles shall not be refundable in accordance with the provisions of *RCW 82.36.280 as it now exists or is hereafter amended.[ 1977 ex.s. c 220 s 13; 1974 ex.s. c 144 s …

The nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in this account are subject to legislative appropriation. The recreation and conservation funding board shall administer the account for purposes specified in this chapter and …

(1) From time to time, but at least once each year, the state treasurer must refund from the motor vehicle fund one percent of the motor vehicle fuel tax revenues collected under chapter 82.38 RCW, based on: (a) A tax rate of: (i) Nineteen cents per gallon of motor vehicle fuel f…

(1) After deducting administrative expenses and the expense of any programs conducted under this chapter, the board shall, at least once each year, distribute the funds it receives under RCW 46.68.045 and 46.09.520 to state agencies, counties, municipalities, federal agencies, no…

(1) The multiuse roadway safety account is created in the motor vehicle fund. All receipts from vehicle license fees under RCW 46.17.350(1)(r) must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Except as provided in (e) of this subsec…

The following definitions apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "All-terrain vehicle" means any self-propelled vehicle other than a snowmobile, capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swamplan…

(1) Except as provided in this chapter, a person may not operate a snowmobile within this state unless the snowmobile has been registered as required under this chapter.(2) Snowmobile decals must be assigned, without the payment of a fee, to snowmobiles owned by the state of Wash…

(1) There is created in the Washington state parks and recreation commission a snowmobile advisory committee to advise the commission regarding the administration of this chapter.(2) The purpose of the committee is to assist and advise the commission in the planned development of…

The operator of any snowmobile involved in any accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or property damage to an apparent extent equal to or greater than the minimum amount established by rule adopted by the Washington state patrol in accordance with chapter 46.52 …

Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this chapter, any city, county, or other political subdivision of this state, or any state agency, may regulate the operation of snowmobiles on public lands, waters, and other properties under its jurisdiction, and on streets or highways w…

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the local governing body may provide for the safety and convenience of snowmobiles and snowmobile operators. Such provisions may include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, the clearing of areas for parking automobiles, …

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by all persons having the authority to enforce any of the laws of this state, including, without limitation, officers of the state patrol, county sheriffs and their deputies, all municipal law enforcement officers within their resp…

With the exception of the registration and licensing provisions, this chapter shall be administered by the Washington state parks and recreation commission. The department shall consult with the commission prior to adopting rules to carry out its duties under this chapter. After …

(1) The application for an original snowmobile registration has the same requirements as described for original vehicle registrations in RCW 46.16A.040 and must be accompanied by the annual snowmobile registration fee required under RCW 46.17.350, in addition to any other fees an…

Registration is not required under this chapter for the following snowmobiles:(1) Snowmobiles owned and operated by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision thereof.(2) A snowmobile owned by a resident of another state or Canadian province if that snowmobile i…

The owner of a motorcycle may apply for a snowmobile registration as provided in RCW 46.16A.460 and under the terms of this chapter to use the motorcycle, when properly converted, as a snow bike for the purposes of this chapter.[ 2019 c 262 s 2.]Notes:Effective date—2019 c 262: S…

The owner of a wheeled all-terrain vehicle weighing less than two thousand pounds in stock configuration, when properly converted, as a tracked all-terrain vehicle, may apply for a snowmobile registration as provided in RCW 46.09.390 and under the terms and for the purposes of th…

(1) Each dealer of snowmobiles in this state shall obtain a snowmobile dealer license from the department in a manner prescribed by the department. Upon receipt of an application for a snowmobile dealer's license and the fee provided in subsection (2) of this section, the dealer …

(1) Snowmobile decals assigned to a snowmobile in this state at the time of its original registration must remain with that snowmobile until the snowmobile is destroyed, abandoned, or permanently removed from this state, or until changed or terminated by the department.(2) The de…

(1) Snowmobile decals assigned to each snowmobile must be:(a) Permanently affixed to and displayed upon each snowmobile as provided by rules adopted by the department; and(b) Maintained in a legible condition.(2) Dealer license plates as provided for in RCW 46.10.420 may be tempo…

(1) The application for a nonresident temporary snowmobile permit must be made by the snowmobile owner or the owner's authorized representative to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a form furnished or approved by the departmen…

It shall be lawful to drive or operate a snowmobile across public roadways and highways other than limited access highways when:The crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick an…

Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 46.10.460, it shall be lawful to operate a snowmobile upon a public roadway or highway:Where such roadway or highway is completely covered with snow or ice and has been closed by the responsible governing body to motor vehicle traffic during …

No person under twelve years of age shall operate a snowmobile on or across a public roadway or highway in this state, and no person between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age shall operate a snowmobile on or across a public road or highway in this state unless he or she…

The director may by order deny, suspend, or revoke the license of any snowmobile dealer or, in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, may by order assess monetary civil penalties not to exceed five hundred dollars per violation, if the director finds that the order is in the public…

(1) It is a traffic infraction for any person to operate any snowmobile:(a) At a rate of speed greater than reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions.(b) In a manner so as to endanger the property of another.(c) Without a lighted headlight and taillight between the hou…

(1) No person shall operate a snowmobile in such a way as to endanger human life.(2) No person shall operate a snowmobile in such a way as to run down or harass deer, elk, or any wildlife, or any domestic animal, nor shall any person carry any loaded weapon upon, nor hunt from, a…