Title 46, MOTOR VEHICLES

"Center line" means the line, marked or unmarked, parallel to and equidistant from the sides of a two-way traffic roadway of a highway except where otherwise indicated by painted lines or markers. [ 1975 c 62 s 3; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.100. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 11; prior: 1937 c 189 s …

"Center of intersection" means the point of intersection of the center lines of the roadway of intersecting public highways. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.110. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 12; prior: 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360-1, part.]

"Chauffeur" means a person authorized by the department under this title to drive a limousine, and, if operating in a port district that regulates limousines under RCW 46.72A.030(2), meets the licensing requirements of that port district. [ 1996 c 87 s 1.]

(1) "Circular intersection" means an intersection characterized by a circulatory roadway, generally circular in design, located in the center of the intersection. A circular intersection encompasses the area bounded by the outermost curb line or, if there is no curb, the edge of …

"City street" means every public highway, or part thereof located within the limits of cities and towns, except alleys. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.120. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 13; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, part. (ii) 1937 c 189 s 1, part…

"Collectible vehicle" means a vehicle that complies with the following: (1) Is of unique or rare design, of limited production, and an object of curiosity; (2) Is maintained primarily for use in car club activities, exhibitions, parades, or other functions of public interest or f…

"Collector" means the owner of one or more vehicles described in RCW 46.18.220(1) who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of the vehicle or parts of it, for his or her personal use, in order to preserve, restore, and maintain the vehicle for hobby or historical pur…

"Collector vehicle" means any motor vehicle or travel trailer that is at least thirty years old. [ 2015 c 200 s 4; 2009 c 142 s 2.] Notes: Effective date—2015 c 200: See note following RCW 46.16A.428.

"Collector vehicle license plate" means a special license plate that may be assigned to a vehicle that is more than thirty years old. [ 2010 c 161 s 109.] Notes: Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 leg…

"Collegiate license plates" means license plates that display a depiction of the name and mascot or symbol of a state university, regional university, or state college as defined in RCW 28B.10.016. [ 1994 c 194 s 1.]

"Combination of vehicles" means every combination of motor vehicle and motor vehicle, motor vehicle and trailer or motor vehicle and semitrailer. [ 1963 c 154 s 26; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.130. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 14; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 194…

"Commercial trailer" means a trailer that is principally used to transport commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, or animals. [ 2010 c 161 s 110.] Notes: Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legisl…

"Commercial vehicle" means any vehicle the principal use of which is the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, animals, or passengers for hire. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.140. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 15; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp…

"Confidential license plates" and "undercover license plates" mean standard issue license plates assigned to vehicles owned or operated by public agencies. These license plates are used as specifically authorized under RCW 46.08.066. [ 2010 c 161 s 111.] Notes: Effective date—Int…

"Converter gear" means an auxiliary axle, booster axle, dolly, or jeep axle. [ 2010 c 161 s 112.] 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 46.0…

"County road" means every public highway or part thereof, outside the limits of cities and towns and which has not been designated as a state highway. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.150. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 16; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, …

"Crosswalk" means the portion of the roadway between the intersection area and a prolongation or connection of the farthest sidewalk line or in the event there are no sidewalks then between the intersection area and a line ten feet therefrom, except as modified by a marked crossw…

"Custom vehicle" means any motor vehicle that: (1) Is at least thirty years old and of a model year after 1948 or was manufactured to resemble a vehicle at least thirty years old and of a model year after 1948; and (2) Has alterations to one or more of the major component parts l…

"Data services" means the practice of providing data sets to governmental entities and businesses, as authorized or required by law. [ 2021 c 93 s 1.]

The term "department" shall mean the department of licensing unless a different department is specified. [ 1979 c 158 s 126; 1975 c 25 s 4. Formerly RCW 46.04.690.]

The term "director" shall mean the director of licensing unless the director of a different department of government is specified. [ 1979 c 158 s 127; 1975 c 25 s 5. Formerly RCW 46.04.695.]

"Disabled American veteran license plates" means special license plates issued to a veteran, as defined in RCW 41.04.007, who meets the requirements provided in RCW 46.18.235. [ 2010 c 161 s 113.] Notes: Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and…

"Donate life license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that displays the donate life logo. [ 2025 c 385 s 20.] 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.

"Drifting" means a driver intentionally oversteers a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maneuvering a vehicle in a turning direction. [ 2023 c 283 s 2.] Notes: Effective date—2023 c 283: See note following RCW 46.04.367.

"Driveaway-towaway operation" means any operation in which any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, singly or in combination, new or used, constitutes the commodity being transported when one set or more wheels of any such vehicle are on the roadway during the course of transpo…

Whenever the term "driver education" is used in the code, it shall be defined to mean "traffic safety education". [ 1969 ex.s. c 218 s 12. Formerly RCW 46.04.700.]

"Driving privilege withheld" means that the department has revoked, suspended, or denied a person's Washington state driver's license, permit to drive, driving privilege, or nonresident driving privilege. [ 1999 c 6 s 2.] Notes: Intent—1999 c 6: "(1) This act is intended to edit …

(1) "Electric-assisted bicycle" means a bicycle with two or three wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle's electric motor must have a power output of no more than 750 watts. The electric-assisted bicycle…

"Electric personal assistive mobility device" (EPAMD) means (1) a self-balancing device with two wheels not in tandem, designed to transport only one person by an electric propulsion system with an average power of seven hundred fifty watts (one horsepower) having a maximum speed…

"Electronic commerce" may include, but is not limited to, transactions conducted over the Internet or by telephone or other electronic means. [ 2004 c 249 s 1.]

"Empty scale weight" means the weight of a vehicle as it stands without a load. [ 2010 c 161 s 114.] 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 4…

"Endangered wildlife license plates" means special license plates that display a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state. [ 2010 c 161 s 115.] Notes: Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made d…

"Excessive speeding" means traveling at: (1) 10 miles per hour or greater in excess of the posted speed limit, if the posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour or less; and (2) 20 miles per hour or greater in excess of the posted speed limit, if the posted speed limit is greater th…

"Explosives" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion, and which contains any oxidizing or combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fi…

"Facial recognition matching system" means a system that compares the biometric template derived from an image of an applicant or holder of a driver's license, permit, or identicard with the biometric templates derived from the images in the department's negative file. [ 2012 c 8…

"Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines, and other implements of husbandry. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.180. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 19; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s…

"Farm vehicle" means any vehicle other than a farm tractor or farm implement which is: (1) Designed and/or used primarily in agricultural pursuits on farms for the purpose of transporting machinery, equipment, implements, farm products, supplies and/or farm labor thereon and is o…

"Farmer" means any person, firm, partnership or corporation engaged in farming. If a person, firm, partnership or corporation is engaged in activities in addition to that of farming, the definition shall only apply to that portion of the activity that is defined as farming in RCW…

"Farming" means the cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing, and harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural commodities (except forestry or forestry operations), the raising of livestock, bees, fur-bearing animals, or poultry, and …

"Firefighter memorial license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the Maltese cross with the words "never forget." [ 2025 c 385 s 19.] Notes: Effective date—2025 c 385 ss 3-24: See note following RCW 44.04.300. Short title—2025 c 385: See …

"Fixed load vehicle" means a commercial vehicle that has a structure or machinery permanently attached such as, but not limited to, an air compressor, a bunk house, a conveyor, a cook house, a donkey engine, a hoist, a rock crusher, a tool house, or a well drilling machine. Fixed…

"Flammable liquid" means any liquid which has a flash point of 70° Fahrenheit, or less, as determined by a Tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device. [ 1961 c 12 s 46.04.210. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 22; prior: 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360-1, part. Cf. 1951 c 102 s 3. Formerly…

"For hire vehicle" means any motor vehicle used for the transportation of persons for compensation, except auto stages and ride-sharing vehicles. [ 1979 c 111 s 13; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.190. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 20; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 194…

"Former prisoner of war license plates" means special license plates that may be issued to former prisoners of war as authorized under RCW 46.18.235. [ 2010 c 161 s 117.] Notes: Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made dur…

"Fred Hutch license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the Fred Hutchinson cancer research center. [ 2017 c 25 s 4.] Notes: Effective date—2017 c 25: See note following RCW 46.18.200.

"Garbage truck" means a truck specially designed and used exclusively for garbage or refuse operations. [ 1983 c 68 s 1.]