The whole Washington file

WASHINGTON FIELD FILE

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About this guide — education built from the Revised Code of Washington as the Legislature publishes it, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of September 2026.

In Washington, a driver in a crash that injures or kills anyone stops immediately at or as close to the scene as possible and remains there. In a crash with only damage to an attended vehicle or property, the driver moves the vehicle off the main lanes to a suitable place nearby and remains there.

RCW 46.52.020

Name, address, insurance, policy number, plate, and the license shown. The driver gives their name, address, insurance company, policy number and vehicle license number, shows their driver's license to the other driver or injured person, and renders reasonable assistance, including arranging transport to a doctor or hospital where treatment is apparently needed or requested. Doing so is not evidence of fault.

RCW 46.52.020

Failing those duties after a crash causing	The offense
Failing those duties after a crash causingA death	The offenseClass B felony
Failing those duties after a crash causingAn injury	The offenseClass C felony
Failing those duties after a crash causingDamage to an attended vehicle or property	The offenseGross misdemeanor

RCW 46.52.020

A driver who hits an unattended vehicle stops and either finds the owner or leaves a written note in a conspicuous place with the name and address of the driver and owner; failing to is a misdemeanor. A driver in a crash with injury, death or property damage at or above the state patrol's set amount makes a written report within four days, unless an officer makes one.

Sources for this section (3)

RCW 46.52.020 — Duty in case of injury, death, or damage to attended vehicle or property
RCW 46.52.010 — Duty on striking unattended car or other property
RCW 46.52.030 — Accident reports

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.

WASHINGTON FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

WASHINGTON FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

After A CrashRCW 46.52.020 — stop, exchange, render aid, and a note at an unattended car▾

Open ContainerRCW 46.61.519 — drinking or an open container in a vehicle, a traffic infraction▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelRCW 46.61.672 — no holding it, including stopped in traffic, and double the second time▾

Speed LimitsRCW 46.61.400 — 25 in town, 50 on county roads, 60 on state highways, unless posted▾

Reckless DrivingRCW 46.61.500 — willful or wanton disregard, a gross misdemeanor, and a 30 day suspension▾

Seat BeltsRCW 46.61.688 — everyone 16 and older belted, and the car seat rules by age and height▾

Driving While SuspendedRCW 46.20.342 — the degree of the offense is set by why the license was suspended▾

Being stopped

Traffic StopsRCW 46.61.021 — the duty to stop, and to give a name and address for an infraction▾

When You Must IdentifyRCW 46.61.021 — the duty to identify in Washington is written for traffic infractions▾

A Warrant For The HomeRCW 10.79.040 — no officer searches a home without a warrant▾

Resisting And EludingRCW 9A.76.040 — resisting arrest, obstructing, and eluding a police vehicle▾

Marijuana and drugs

Cannabis And DrugsRCW 69.50.4013 — an ounce at 21 is lawful, and possession of other drugs a gross misdemeanor▾

Impaired driving

The DUI StopRCW 46.61.502 — 0.08 within two hours, the breath test warning, and a year for refusing▾

Drinking In PublicRCW 66.44.100 — opening or drinking liquor in a public place, a civil infraction▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackRCW 59.18.280 — a written checklist first, and 30 days to account for it after▾

Being EvictedRCW 59.18.650 — a listed cause, 14 days to pay, and 10 days to fix a breach▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItRCW 59.18.070 — 24 hours for heat or water, 72 for major appliances, ten days for the rest▾

When The Landlord Can Come InRCW 59.18.150 — two days' written notice, one day to show the unit▾

Getting PaidRCW 49.48.010 — the last check at the end of the pay period, and double damages for wages withheld▾

Getting Public RecordsRCW 42.56.520 — five business days to respond, and up to $100 a day for a wrongful denial▾

Small Claims CourtRCW 12.40.010 — $10,000 for a person, and no lawyers without the judge's consent▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeRCW 6.27.150 — most of a week's pay, the homestead, and the listed property▾

Unemployment BenefitsRCW 50.20.050 — the listed good causes for quitting, and thirty days to appeal▾

Getting DivorcedRCW 26.09.030 — irretrievably broken, and ninety days after filing and service▾

Parenting PlansRCW 26.09.187 — the child's relationship with each parent weighs most▾

Protection OrdersRCW 7.105.100 — the kinds of protection order, what they can do, and a gross misdemeanor to violate▾

Deceptive Business PracticesRCW 19.86.090 — actual damages, attorney's fees, and up to three times damages▾

Sales Made Away From The StoreRCW 63.14.154 — until midnight of the third day to cancel an installment sale solicited away from the seller▾

Time Limits To SueRCW 4.16.080 — two, three or six years, by the kind of claim▾

Hurt At WorkRCW 51.28.050 — report it forthwith, file within one year, and sixty days to appeal▾

Discrimination At WorkRCW 49.60.180 — the protected classes, six months to file with the commission, and a right to sue▾

Dog BitesRCW 16.08.040 — the owner is liable, whether or not the dog was known to be vicious▾

Recording

RecordingRCW 9.73.030 — every party's consent for a private conversation, and an announcement counts▾

Carrying a firearm

CarryingRCW 9.41.050 — a license to carry a pistol concealed, and at 21▾

Charges and penalties

The Theft LadderRCW 9A.56.050 — $750 and $5,000 draw the lines between the degrees▾

Release After An ArrestRCW 10.21.050 — what the judicial officer weighs in setting conditions of release▾

Underage DrinkingRCW 66.44.270 — under 21, possession is a gross misdemeanor, and so is supplying it▾

AssaultRCW 9A.36.041 — fourth degree assault, and the degrees above it up to a class B felony▾

Vacating A ConvictionRCW 9.96.060 — three years for most misdemeanors, and five or ten for felonies▾

How you carry yourself

Disorderly ConductRCW 9A.84.030 — abusive language that risks assault, disruption, and blocking traffic▾

TrespassRCW 9A.52.070 — a building is first degree, other premises second, and the defenses▾

Harassment And StalkingRCW 9A.46.020 — threats that cause reasonable fear, and repeated following or contact▾

Walk it through