Resisting And Eluding
RCW 9A.76.040 — resisting arrest, obstructing, and eluding a police vehicle
| The conduct | The offense |
|---|---|
| The conductIntentionally preventing or attempting to prevent a peace officer from lawfully arresting oneself | The offenseResisting arrest, a misdemeanor |
| The conductWillfully hindering, delaying or obstructing an officer in the discharge of official duties | The offenseObstructing, a gross misdemeanor |
| The conductWillfully failing to stop and driving recklessly while eluding a pursuing police vehicle after a signal | The offenseAttempting to elude, a class C felony |
For eluding, the officer giving the signal is in uniform and the vehicle has lights and sirens. It is an affirmative defense that a reasonable person would not believe the signal came from a police officer and driving on was reasonable. A conviction revokes the license.
Sources for this section (3)
- RCW 9A.76.040 — Resisting arrest
- RCW 9A.76.020 — Obstructing a law enforcement officer
- RCW 46.61.024 — Attempting to elude police vehicle
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.