Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 46.20 · 128 active provisions
DRIVER'S LICENSE AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS (1) No person may drive a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without first obtaining a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter. The only exceptions to this requirement are those expressly allowed by RCW 46.20.025.(2) A person licensed as…
Except as expressly exempted by this chapter, it is a misdemeanor for a person to drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter. This section does not apply if at the time of the stop the person is not in violation of RCW 46.20.34…
(1) Except as expressly exempted by this chapter, it is a traffic infraction and not a misdemeanor under RCW 46.20.005 if a person:(a) Drives any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state without a valid driver's license issued to Washington residents under this chapter in his or her possession;(b) Provides the citing…
Every licensee shall have his or her driver's license in his or her immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and shall display the same upon demand to any police officer or to any other person when and if required by law to do so. The offense described in this section is a nonmoving offense.
(1) New Washington residents must obtain a valid Washington driver's license within thirty days from the date they become residents.(2) To qualify for a Washington driver's license, a person must surrender to the department all valid driver's licenses that any other jurisdiction has issued to him or her. The department…
Any person who operates a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state without a driver's license or nonresident privilege to drive shall be subject to all of the provisions of Title 46 RCW to the same extent as a person who is licensed.
No person shall cause or knowingly permit his or her child or ward under the age of eighteen years to drive a motor vehicle upon any highway when such minor is not authorized hereunder or in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.
The following persons may operate a motor vehicle on a Washington highway without a valid Washington driver's license:(1) A member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or in the service of the National Guard of this state or any other state, if licensed by the military to operate an…
A Washington state motor vehicle driver's license issued to any service member if valid and in force and effect while such person is serving in the armed forces, shall remain in full force and effect so long as such service continues unless the same is sooner suspended, canceled, or revoked for cause as provided by law…
The department shall not issue a driver's license to a person:(1) Who is under the age of sixteen years;(2) Whose driving privilege has been withheld unless and until the department may authorize the driving privilege under RCW 46.20.311;(3) Who has been classified as an alcoholic, drug addict, alcohol abuser, or drug…
The department may not issue an identicard or a Washington state driver's license that is valid for identification purposes unless the applicant meets the identification requirements of subsection (1), (2), or (3) of this section.(1) A driver's license or identicard applicant must provide the department with at least o…
(1) The department shall develop in consultation with the department of children, youth, and families, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, and the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs:(a) Other forms of identification that could be used for individuals qualifying for a Washing…
(1) The department may implement a facial recognition matching system for drivers' licenses, permits, and identicards. Any facial recognition matching system selected by the department must be used only to verify the identity of an applicant for or holder of a driver's license, permit, or identicard to determine whethe…
(1) If the department has reason to believe that a person is suffering from a physical or mental disability or disease that may affect that person's ability to drive a motor vehicle, the department must evaluate whether the person is able to safely drive a motor vehicle. As part of the evaluation:(a) The department sha…
A person who is under the age of eighteen years shall not drive:(1) A school bus transporting school children; or(2) A motor vehicle transporting persons for compensation.
There shall be an additional fee for issuing any class of commercial driver's license in addition to the prescribed fee required for the issuance of the original driver's license. The additional fee for each class shall be one hundred thirty-six dollars for the original commercial driver's license or subsequent renewal…
(1) Driver's instruction permit. The department may issue a driver's instruction permit online or in person with or without a photograph to an applicant who has successfully passed all parts of the examination other than the driving test, provided the information required by RCW 46.20.091, paid an application fee of $2…
(1) If the department is completing an investigation and determination of facts concerning an applicant's right to receive a driver's license, it may issue a temporary driver's permit to the applicant.(2) A temporary driver's permit authorizes the permittee to drive a motor vehicle for up to sixty days. The permittee m…
(1) Agricultural driving permit authorized. The director may issue a juvenile agricultural driving permit to a person under the age of eighteen years if:(a) The application is signed by the applicant and the applicant's father, mother, or legal guardian;(b) The applicant has passed the driving examination required by R…
(1) An intermediate license authorizes the holder to drive a motor vehicle under the conditions specified in this section. An applicant for an intermediate license must be at least 16 years of age and:(a) Have possessed a valid instruction permit for a period of not less than six months;(b) Have passed a driver licensi…
OBTAINING OR RENEWING A DRIVER'S LICENSE (1) Application. In order to apply for a driver's license or instruction permit the applicant must provide the applicant's:(a) Name of record, as established by documentation required under RCW 46.20.035;(b) Date of birth, as established by satisfactory evidence of age;(c) Sex;(…
(1) It is a misdemeanor for any person:(a) To display or cause or permit to be displayed or have in his or her possession any fictitious or fraudulently altered driver's license or identicard;(b) To lend his or her driver's license or identicard to any other person or knowingly permit the use thereof by another;(c) To…
The department of licensing shall incorporate a section on bicycle safety and sharing the road into its instructional publications for drivers and shall include questions in the written portion of the driver's license examination on bicycle safety and sharing the road with bicycles.
The department's instructional publications for drivers must include information on:(1) The proper use of the left-hand lane by motor vehicles on multilane highways; and(2) Bicyclists' and pedestrians' rights and responsibilities.
(1) Application. The application of a person under the age of 18 years for a driver's license or a motorcycle endorsement must be signed by a parent, guardian, employer, or responsible adult as defined in RCW 46.20.075.(2) Traffic safety education requirement. For a person under the age of 18 years to obtain a driver's…