Title 46 — Title 46 MOTOR VEHICLES
54 chapters · 1,673 sections in this title.
RCW 46.37.465 Fuel system.
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(1) The fuel system shall be manufactured, installed, and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public. Fuel tanks shall be equipped with approved caps.(2) There shall be no signs of leakage from the carburetor or the fuel pump or the f…
RCW 46.37.467 Alternative fuel source—Placard required.
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(1) Every automobile, truck, motorcycle, motor home, or off-road vehicle that is fueled by an alternative fuel source must bear a reflective placard issued by the national fire protection association indicating that the vehicle is so fueled. Violation of this subsection is a traf…
RCW 46.37.470 Air conditioning equipment.
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(1) "Air conditioning equipment," as used or referred to in this section, means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment that is used to cool the driver's or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle.(2) Air conditioning equipment must be manufactured, installed, and…
RCW 46.37.480 Headsets, earphones.
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(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and…
RCW 46.37.490 Safety load chains and devices required.
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It shall be unlawful to operate any vehicle upon the public highways of this state without having the load thereon securely fastened and protected by safety chains or other device. The chief of the Washington state patrol is hereby authorized to adopt and enforce reasonable rules…
RCW 46.37.495 Safety chains for towing.
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(1) "Safety chains" means flexible tension members connected from the front portion of the towed vehicle to the rear portion of the towing vehicle for the purpose of retaining connection between towed and towing vehicle in the event of failure of the connection provided by the pr…
RCW 46.37.500 Fenders or splash aprons.
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(1) Except as authorized under subsection (2) of this section, no person may operate any motor vehicle, trailer, cargo extension, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the…
RCW 46.37.505 Child passenger restraint systems.
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The state patrol shall adopt standards for the performance, design, and installation of passenger restraint systems for children less than five years old and shall approve those systems which meet its standards.[ 1987 c 330 s 728; 1983 c 215 s 1.]Notes:Construction—Application of…
RCW 46.37.510 Seat belts and shoulder harnesses.
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(1) No person may sell any automobile manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, nor may any owner cause such vehicle to be registered thereafter under the provisions of chapter 46.12 RCW unless such motor car or automobile is equipped with automobile seat belts installed f…
RCW 46.37.513 Bumpers.
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When any motor vehicle was originally equipped with bumpers or any other collision energy absorption or attenuation system, that system shall be maintained in good operational condition, and no person shall remove or disconnect, and no owner shall cause or knowingly permit the re…
RCW 46.37.517 Body and body hardware.
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(1) The body, fenders, and bumpers shall be maintained without protrusions which could be hazardous to pedestrians. In addition, the bumpers shall be so attached and maintained so as to not protrude beyond the original bumper line.(2) The hood, hood latches, hood fastenings, door…
RCW 46.37.518 Street rod, custom, and kit vehicles—Optional and required equipment.
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Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, hoods and bumpers are optional equipment on street rod vehicles, custom vehicles, and kit vehicles. Street rod vehicles, custom vehicles, and kit vehicles must comply with fender requirements under RCW 46.37.500(2) and the windshi…
RCW 46.37.5185 Street rod and custom vehicles—Blue dot taillights.
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A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot taillights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors. For the purposes of this section, "blue dot taillight" means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle containing a blue or p…
RCW 46.37.519 Kit vehicles.
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(1) For the purposes of this section:(a) "Kit vehicle" means a passenger car or light truck assembled from a manufactured kit, and is either (i) a kit consisting of a prefabricated body and chassis used to construct a complete vehicle, or (ii) a kit consisting of a prefabricated …
RCW 46.37.520 Beach vehicles with soft tires—"Dune buggies"—Inspection and approval required—Fee.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to lease for hire or permit the use of any vehicle with soft tires commonly used upon the beach and referred to as a dune buggy unless such vehicle has been inspected by and approved by the state patrol, which may charge a reasonable fee theref…
RCW 46.37.522 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—When head lamps and tail lamps to be lighted.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have its head lamps and tail lamps lighted whenever such vehicle is in motion upon a highway.[ 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 45.]Notes:Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule—IRLJ 6.2.Severability—1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37…
RCW 46.37.523 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
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(1) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one lamp which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this section.(2) Every head lamp upon every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall be located at a height of not more than fifty…
RCW 46.37.524 Motor-driven cycles—Head lamps.
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The head lamp or head lamps upon every motor-driven cycle may be of the single-beam or multiple-beam type but in either event shall comply with the requirements and limitations as follows:(1) Every such head lamp or head lamps on a motor-driven cycle shall be of a sufficient inte…
RCW 46.37.525 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Tail lamps, reflectors, and stop lamps.
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(1) Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle shall have at least one tail lamp which shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two nor less than fifteen inches.(2) Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white li…
RCW 46.37.527 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Brake requirements.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle must comply with the provisions of RCW 46.37.351, except that:(1) Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles need not be equipped with parking brakes;(2) The wheel of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle or to a motor-driven cycle, and the front whe…
RCW 46.37.528 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Performance ability of brakes.
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Every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service brake, shall be capable of:(1) Developing a braking force that is not less than forty-three and one-half percent of its gross weight;(2) Decelerating to a st…
RCW 46.37.529 Motor-driven cycles—Braking system inspection.
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(1) The state patrol is authorized to require an inspection of the braking system on any motor-driven cycle and to disapprove any such braking system on a vehicle which it finds will not comply with the performance ability standard set forth in RCW 46.37.351, or which in its opin…
RCW 46.37.530 Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, electric-assisted bicycles—Helmets, other equipment—Children—Rules.
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(1) It is unlawful:(a) For any person to operate a motorcycle, moped, or motor-driven cycle not equipped with mirrors on the left and right sides which shall be so located as to give the driver a complete view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear…
RCW 46.37.535 Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds—Helmet requirements when rented.
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It is unlawful for any person to rent out motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, or mopeds unless the person also has on hand for rent helmets of a type conforming to rules adopted by the state patrol.It shall be unlawful for any person to rent a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or mop…
RCW 46.37.537 Motorcycles—Exhaust system.
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No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motorcycle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the engine of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motorcy…
RCW 46.37.539 Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—Additional requirements and limitations.
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Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall also comply with the requirements and limitations of:RCW 46.37.380 on horns and warning devices;RCW 46.37.390 on mufflers and prevention of noise;RCW 46.37.400 on mirrors; andRCW 46.37.420 on tires.[ 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 53.]Notes…
RCW 46.37.540 Odometers—Disconnecting, resetting, or turning back prohibited.
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(1) The legislature intends to make it illegal for persons to turn forward the odometer on a new car to avoid compliance with the emissions standards required by chapter 295, Laws of 2005.(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to disconnect, turn back, turn forward, or reset the…
RCW 46.37.550 Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer turned back unlawful.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a motor vehicle in this state if such person has knowledge that the odometer on such motor vehicle has been turned back and if such person fails to notify the buyer, prior to the time of sale, that the odometer has been turned back or t…
RCW 46.37.560 Odometers—Selling motor vehicle knowing odometer replaced unlawful.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a motor vehicle in this state if such person has knowledge that the odometer on such motor vehicle has been replaced with another odometer and if such person fails to notify the buyer, prior to the time of sale, that the odometer has be…
RCW 46.37.570 Odometers—Selling, advertising, using, or installing device registering false mileage.
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It shall be unlawful for any person to advertise for sale, to sell, to use, or to install on any part of a motor vehicle or on an odometer in a motor vehicle any device which causes the odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage driven. For the purposes of this …
RCW 46.37.590 Odometers—Purchaser plaintiff to recover costs and attorney's fee, when.
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In any suit brought by the purchaser of a motor vehicle against the seller of such vehicle, the purchaser shall be entitled to recover his or her court costs and a reasonable attorney's fee fixed by the court, if: (1) The suit or claim is based substantially upon the purchaser's …
RCW 46.37.600 Liability of operator, owner, lessee for violations.
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Whenever an act or omission is declared to be unlawful in chapter 46.37 RCW, if the operator of the vehicle is not the owner or lessee of such vehicle, but is so operating or moving the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner or lessee, then the operator and/o…
RCW 46.37.610 Wheelchair conveyance standards.
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The state patrol shall adopt rules for wheelchair conveyance safety standards. Operation of a wheelchair conveyance that is in violation of these standards is a traffic infraction.[ 1987 c 330 s 734; 1983 c 200 s 4.]Notes:Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330:…
RCW 46.37.620 School buses—Crossing arms.
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Effective September 1, 1992, every school bus shall, in addition to any other equipment required by this chapter, be equipped with a crossing arm mounted to the bus that, when extended, will require students who are crossing in front of the bus to walk more than five feet from th…
RCW 46.37.630 Private school buses.
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A private school bus is subject to the requirements set forth in the National Standards for School Buses established by the national safety council in effect at the time of the bus manufacture, as adopted by rule by reference by the chief of the Washington state patrol. A private…
RCW 46.37.640 Air bags—Definitions.
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(1) "Air bag" means an inflatable restraint system or portion of an inflatable restraint system including, but not limited to, the cushion material, cover, sensors, controllers, inflators, and wiring that (a) operates in the event of a crash and (b) is designed in accordance with…
RCW 46.37.650 Air bags—Manufacture, importation, sale, or installation of counterfeit, nonfunctional, damaged, or previously deployed—Penalties.
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(1)(a) It is unlawful for a person, with criminal negligence, to manufacture or import a motor vehicle air bag, that: (i) Is a counterfeit air bag, (ii) is a nonfunctional air bag, (iii) is a previously deployed or damaged air bag that is part of an inflatable restraint system, o…
RCW 46.37.660 Air bags—Replacement requirements, diagnostic system—Penalties.
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(1)(a) Whenever an air bag that is part of a previously deployed inflatable restraint system is replaced by either a new air bag that is part of an inflatable restraint system or a nondeployed salvage air bag that is part of an inflatable restraint system, the air bag must confor…
RCW 46.37.670 Signal preemption devices—Prohibited—Exceptions.
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(1) Signal preemption devices shall not be installed or used on or with any vehicle other than an emergency vehicle authorized by the state patrol, an organ transport vehicle, a publicly owned law enforcement or emergency vehicle, a department of transportation, city, or county m…
RCW 46.37.671 Signal preemption device—Possession—Penalty.
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(1) It is unlawful to possess a signal preemption device except as authorized in RCW 46.37.670.(2) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 2005 c 183 s 3.]
RCW 46.37.672 Signal preemption device—Use, sale, purchase—Penalty.
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(1) It is unlawful to:(a) Use a signal preemption device except as authorized in RCW 46.37.670;(b) Sell a signal preemption device to a person other than a person described in RCW 46.37.670; or(c) Purchase a signal preemption device for use other than a duty as described in RCW 4…
RCW 46.37.673 Signal preemption device—Accident—Property damage or less than substantial bodily harm—Penalty.
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(1) When an accident that results only in injury to property or injury to a person that does not arise to substantial bodily harm as defined in RCW 9A.04.110 occurs as a proximate result of the operation of a signal preemption device which was not authorized in RCW 46.37.670, the…
RCW 46.37.674 Signal preemption device—Accident—Substantial bodily harm—Penalty.
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(1) When an accident that results in injury to a person that arises to substantial bodily harm as defined in RCW 9A.04.110 occurs as a proximate result of the operation of a signal preemption device which was not authorized in RCW 46.37.670, the driver is guilty of negligently ca…
RCW 46.37.675 Signal preemption device—Accident—Death—Penalty.
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(1) When an accident that results in death to a person occurs as a proximate result of the operation of a signal preemption device which was not authorized in RCW 46.37.670, the driver is guilty of negligently causing death by use of a signal preemption device.(2) Negligently cau…
RCW 46.37.680 Sound system attachment.
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(1) All vehicle sound system components, including any supplemental speaker systems or components, must be securely attached to the vehicle regardless of where the components are located, so that the components cannot become dislodged or loose during operation of the vehicle.(2) …
RCW 46.37.685 License plate flipping device—Unlawful use, display, sale—Penalty.
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(1)(a) It is unlawful for a person to display a license plate on a vehicle that does not match or correspond with the registration of the vehicle unless the vehicle is inventory for a properly licensed vehicle dealer.(b) It is unlawful for a person to have an installed license pl…
RCW 46.37.690 Electric-assisted bicycles—Label—Compliance with equipment and manufacturing requirements—No tampering unless label is replaced—Bicycle and bicycle rider provisions apply.
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(1) A manufacturer or distributor of new electric-assisted bicycles, where electric-assisted bicycles are defined in RCW 46.04.169, offered for sale or distribution in Washington state must:(a) Beginning July 1, 2018, permanently affix, in a prominent location, a label printed in…
RCW 46.44.010 Outside width limit.
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The total outside width of any vehicle or load thereon must not exceed eight and one-half feet; except that an externally mounted rear vision mirror may extend beyond the width limits of the vehicle body to a point that allows the driver a view to the rear of the vehicle along bo…
RCW 46.44.013 Appurtenances on recreational vehicles.
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Motor homes, travel trailers, and campers may exceed the maximum width established under RCW 46.44.010 if the excess width is attributable to appurtenances that do not extend beyond the body of the vehicle by more than four inches, or if an awning, by more than six inches. As use…
RCW 46.44.020 Maximum height—Impaired clearance signs.
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It is unlawful for any vehicle unladen or with load to exceed a height of fourteen feet above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands. This height limitation does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles or repair equipment of a public utility engaged in reasonably nece…