Revised Code of Washington - RCW Title 46 Motor Vehicles - Chapter 46.04 Definitions

46.04.010 Scope and construction of terms
Terms used in this title shall have the meaning given to them in this chapter except where otherwise defined, and unless where used the context ...

46.04.015 Alcohol concentration
"Alcohol concentration" means (1) grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of a person's breath, or (2) grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters ...

46.04.020 Alley
"Alley" means a public highway not designed for general travel and used primarily as a means of access to the rear of residences and business ...

46.04.030 Arterial highway
"Arterial highway" means every public highway, or portion thereof, designated as such by proper authority.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.030. Prior: 1959 c 49 § 4; ...

46.04.040 Authorized emergency vehicle
"Authorized emergency vehicle" means any vehicle of any fire department, police department, sheriff's office, coroner, prosecuting attorney, Washington state patrol, ambulance service, public or private, ...

46.04.050 Auto stage
"Auto stage" means any motor vehicle used for the purpose of carrying passengers together with incidental baggage and freight or either, on a regular schedule ...

46.04.060 Axle
"Axle" means structure or structures in the same or approximately the same transverse plane with a vehicle supported by wheels and on which or with ...

46.04.071 Bicycle
"Bicycle" means every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is ...

46.04.080 Business district
"Business district" means the territory contiguous to and including a highway when within any six hundred feet along such highway there are buildings in use ...

46.04.085 Camper
"Camper" means a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle which provides facilities for human habitation or for temporary outdoor or recreational lodging ...

46.04.090 Cancel
"Cancel," in all its forms, means invalidation indefinitely.[1979 c 61 § 1; 1961 c 12 § 46.04.090. Prior: 1959 c 49 § 10; prior: (i) ...

46.04.100 Center line
"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 ...

46.04.110 Center of intersection
"Center of intersection" means the point of intersection of the center lines of the roadway of intersecting public highways.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.110. Prior: 1959 ...

46.04.115 Chauffeur
"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 ...

46.04.120 City street
"City street" means every public highway, or part thereof located within the limits of cities and towns, except alleys.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.120. Prior: 1959 ...

46.04.125 Collector
"Collector" means the owner of one or more vehicles described in RCW 46.16.305(1) who collects, purchases, acquires, trades, or disposes of the vehicle or parts ...

46.04.127 Collegiate license plates
"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 ...

46.04.130 Combination of vehicles
"Combination of vehicles" means every combination of motor vehicle and motor vehicle, motor vehicle and trailer or motor vehicle and semitrailer.[1963 c 154 § 26; ...

46.04.140 Commercial vehicle
"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 ...

46.04.144 Cooper Jones Act license plate emblems
"Cooper Jones Act license plate emblems" means emblems on valid Washington license plates that display the symbol of bicycle safety created in RCW 46.16.333.[2002 c ...

46.04.150 County road
"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 ...

46.04.160 Crosswalk
"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 ...

46.04.162 Department
The term "department" shall mean the department of licensing unless a different department is specified.[1979 c 158 § 126; 1975 c 25 § 4. Formerly ...

46.04.163 Director
The term "director" shall mean the director of licensing unless the director of a different department of government is specified.[1979 c 158 § 127; 1975 ...

46.04.165 Driveaway-towaway operation
"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 ...

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

46.04.168 Driving privilege withheld
"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 ...

46.04.169 Electric-assisted bicycle
"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 ...

46.04.1695 Electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD)
"Electric personal assistive mobility device" (EPAMD) means a self-balancing device with two wheels not in tandem, designed to transport only one person by an electric ...

46.04.1697 Electronic commerce
"Electronic commerce" may include, but is not limited to, transactions conducted over the Internet or by telephone or other electronic means.[2004 c 249 § 1.] ...

46.04.170 Explosives
"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 ...

46.04.180 Farm tractor
"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 ...

46.04.181 Farm vehicle
"Farm vehicle" means any vehicle other than a farm tractor or farm implement which is designed and/or used primarily in agricultural pursuits on farms for ...

46.04.182 Farmer
"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 ...

46.04.183 Farming
"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 ...

46.04.187 Flammable liquid
"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 ...

46.04.190 For hire vehicle
"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 § 13; ...

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

46.04.1951 Gonzaga University alumni association license plates
"Gonzaga University alumni association license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30916 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of the Gonzaga ...

46.04.196 Helping Kids Speak license plates
"Helping Kids Speak license plates" means license plates that display a symbol of an organization that supports programs that provide free diagnostic and therapeutic services ...

46.04.197 Highway
Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the ...

46.04.200 Hours of darkness
"Hours of darkness" means the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, and any other time when persons or objects may ...

46.04.215 Ignition interlock device
"Ignition interlock device" means breath alcohol analyzing ignition equipment or other biological or technical device certified by the state patrol and designed to prevent a ...

46.04.217 Ignition interlock driver's license
"Ignition interlock driver's license" means a permit issued to a person by the department that allows the person to operate a noncommercial motor vehicle with ...

46.04.220 Intersection area
(1) "Intersection area" means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none then the lateral boundary lines ...

46.04.240 Intersection control area
"Intersection control area" means intersection area, together with such modification of the adjacent roadway area as results from the arc of curb corners and together ...

46.04.249 Keep Kids Safe license plates
"Keep Kids Safe license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30913 that display artwork recognizing efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect in Washington ...

46.04.251 Kit vehicle
"Kit vehicle" means a passenger car or light truck assembled from a manufactured kit, and is either (1) a complete kit consisting of a prefabricated ...

46.04.260 Laned highway
"Laned highway" means a highway the roadway of which is divided into clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.260. Prior: 1959 c ...

46.04.265 Law enforcement memorial license plates
"Law enforcement memorial license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30905 that display a symbol honoring law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the ...

46.04.270 Legal owner
"Legal owner" means a person having a security interest in a vehicle perfected in accordance with chapter 46.12 RCW or the registered owner of a ...

46.04.272 Lightweight stud
(1) "Lightweight stud" means a stud intended for installation and use in a vehicle tire. As used in this title, this means a stud that ...

46.04.274 Limousine
"Limousine" means a category of for hire, chauffeur-driven, unmetered, unmarked luxury motor vehicles. The director in consultation with the Washington state patrol will by rule ...

46.04.276 Limousine carrier
"Limousine carrier" means a person engaged in the transportation of a person or group of persons, who, under a single contract, acquires, on a prearranged ...

46.04.280 Local authorities
"Local authorities" includes every county, municipal, or other local public board or body having authority to adopt local police regulations under the Constitution and laws ...

46.04.290 Marked crosswalk
"Marked crosswalk" means any portion of a roadway distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface thereof.[1961 c 12 § ...

46.04.295 Medium-speed electric vehicle
"Medium-speed electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle, equipped with a roll cage or crush-proof body design, whose speed attainable in one ...

46.04.300 Metal tire
"Metal tire" includes every tire, the bearing surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient ...

46.04.302 Mobile home, manufactured home
"Mobile home" or "manufactured home" means a structure, designed and constructed to be transportable in one or more sections, and is built on a permanent ...

46.04.303 Modular home
"Modular home" means a factory-assembled structure designed primarily for use as a dwelling when connected to the required utilities that include plumbing, heating, and electrical ...

46.04.304 Moped
"Moped" means a motorized device designed to travel with not more than three sixteen-inch or larger diameter wheels in contact with the ground, having fully ...

46.04.305 Motor homes
"Motor homes" means motor vehicles originally designed, reconstructed, or permanently altered to provide facilities for human habitation, which include lodging and cooking or sewage disposal, ...

46.04.310 Motor truck
"Motor truck" means any motor vehicle designed or used for the transportation of commodities, merchandise, produce, freight, or animals.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.310. Prior: 1959 ...

46.04.320 Motor vehicle
"Motor vehicle" means every vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated ...

46.04.330 Motorcycle
"Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, on which the driver rides astride ...

46.04.332 Motor-driven cycle
"Motor-driven cycle" means every motorcycle, including every motor scooter, with a motor that produces not to exceed five brake horsepower (developed by a prime mover, ...

46.04.336 Motorized foot scooter
"Motorized foot scooter" means a device with no more than two ten-inch or smaller diameter wheels that has handlebars, is designed to be stood or ...

46.04.340 Muffler
"Muffler" means a device consisting of a series of chambers, or other mechanical designs for the purpose of receiving exhaust gas from an internal combustion ...

46.04.350 Multiple lane highway
"Multiple lane highway" means any highway the roadway of which is of sufficient width to reasonably accommodate two or more separate lanes of vehicular traffic ...

46.04.355 Municipal transit vehicle
Municipal transit vehicle includes every motor vehicle, streetcar, train, trolley vehicle, and any other device, which (1) is capable of being moved within, upon, above, ...

46.04.357 Neighborhood electric vehicle
"Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour and ...

46.04.360 Nonresident
"Nonresident" means any person whose residence is outside this state and who is temporarily sojourning within this state.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.360. Prior: 1959 c ...

46.04.370 Operator or driver
"Operator or driver" means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.[1975 c 62 § 6; 1967 c 32 § ...

46.04.380 Owner
"Owner" means a person who has a lawful right of possession of a vehicle by reason of obtaining it by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance ...

46.04.381 Park or parking
"Park or parking" means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in ...

46.04.3815 Parts car
"Parts car" means a motor vehicle that is owned by a collector to furnish parts for restoration or maintenance of a vehicle described in RCW ...

46.04.382 Passenger car
"Passenger car" means every motor vehicle except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, designed for carrying ten passengers or less and used for the transportation of persons.[1963 ...

46.04.391 Police officer
Police officer means every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.[1965 ex.s. c 155 § 89.] ...

46.04.400 Pedestrian
"Pedestrian" means any person who is afoot or who is using a wheelchair, a power wheelchair, or a means of conveyance propelled by human power ...

46.04.405 Person
"Person" includes every natural person, firm, copartnership, corporation, association, or organization.[1961 c 12 § 46.04.405. Prior: 1959 c 49 § 42; prior: (i) 1943 c ...

46.04.408 Photograph, picture, negative
"Photograph," along with the terms "picture" and "negative," means a pictorial representation, whether produced through photographic or other means, including, but not limited to, digital ...

46.04.410 Pneumatic tires
"Pneumatic tires" includes every tire of rubber or other resilient material designed to be inflated with compressed air to support the load thereon.[1961 c 12 ...

46.04.414 Pole trailer
"Pole trailer" means every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a ...

46.04.415 Power wheelchair
"Power wheelchair" means any self-propelled vehicle capable of traveling no more than fifteen miles per hour, usable indoors, designed as a mobility aid for individuals ...

46.04.416 Private carrier bus
"Private carrier bus" means every motor vehicle designed for the purpose of carrying passengers (having a seating capacity for eleven or more persons) used regularly ...

46.04.420 Private road or driveway
"Private road or driveway" includes every way or place in private ownership and used for travel of vehicles by the owner or those having express ...

46.04.429 Professional firefighters and paramedics license plates
"Professional firefighters and paramedics license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30901 that display a symbol denoting professional firefighters and paramedics.[2004 c 35 § ...

46.04.435 Public scale
"Public scale" means every scale under public or private ownership which is certified as to its accuracy and which is available for public weighing.[1961 c ...

46.04.440 Railroad
"Railroad" means a carrier of persons or property upon vehicles, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails, the route of which is principally outside cities ...

46.04.450 Railroad sign or signal
"Railroad sign or signal" means any sign, signal, or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad and intended ...

46.04.455 Reasonable grounds
"Reasonable grounds," when used in the context of a law enforcement officer's decision to make an arrest, means probable cause.[1995 c 332 § 19.]Notes: Severability ...

46.04.460 Registered owner
"Registered owner" means the person whose lawful right of possession of a vehicle has most recently been recorded with the department.[1975 c 25 § 3; ...

46.04.465 Rental car
(1) "Rental car" means a passenger car, as defined in RCW 46.04.382, that is used solely by a rental car business for rental to others, ...

46.04.466 Rental car business
"Rental car business" means a person engaging within this state in the business of renting rental cars, as determined under rules of the department of ...

46.04.470 Residence district
"Residence district" means the territory contiguous to and including a public highway not comprising a business district, when the property on such public highway for ...

46.04.480 Revoke
"Revoke," in all its forms, means the invalidation for a period of one calendar year and thereafter until reissue. However, under the provisions of RCW ...

46.04.490 Road tractor
"Road tractor" includes every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a road building vehicle in drawing road building machinery and devices.[1961 c 12 § ...

46.04.500 Roadway
"Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder even though such sidewalk ...

46.04.510 Safety zone
"Safety zone" means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and which is protected or is ...

46.04.521 School bus
School bus means every motor vehicle used regularly to transport children to and from school or in connection with school activities, which is subject to ...

46.04.530 Semitrailer
"Semitrailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed to be drawn by a vehicle, motor vehicle, or truck tractor and so constructed that an appreciable ...

46.04.540 Sidewalk
"Sidewalk" means that property between the curb lines or the lateral lines of a roadway and the adjacent property, set aside and intended for the ...

46.04.550 Solid tire
"Solid tire" includes every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon inflation with compressed air for the support of the ...

46.04.552 Special mobile equipment
"Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved over ...

46.04.555 Stand or standing
"Stand or standing" means the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in ...

46.04.560 State highway
"State highway" includes every highway or part thereof, which has been designated as a state highway or branch thereof, by legislative enactment.[1975 c 62 § ...

46.04.565 Stop
"Stop" when required means complete cessation from movement.[1975 c 62 § 11.]Notes: Severability -- 1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010. ...

46.04.566 Stop or stopping
"Stop or stopping" when prohibited means any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other ...

46.04.570 Streetcar
"Streetcar" means a vehicle other than a train for transporting persons or property and operated upon stationary rails principally within cities and towns.[1961 c 12 ...

46.04.571 Street rod vehicle
"Street rod vehicle" is a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, that meets the following conditions: (1)(a) The vehicle was manufactured before 1949, (b) the ...

46.04.580 Suspend
"Suspend," in all its forms and unless a different period is specified, means invalidation for any period less than one calendar year and thereafter until ...

46.04.582 Tandem axle
"Tandem axle" means any two or more consecutive axles whose centers are less than seven feet apart.[1988 c 6 § 1; 1979 ex.s. c 149 ...

46.04.585 Temporarily sojourning
"Temporarily sojourning," as the term is used in chapter 46.04 RCW, shall be construed to include any nonresident who is within this state for a ...

46.04.590 Traffic
"Traffic" includes pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other conveyances either singly or together, while using any public highways for purposes of travel.[1961 ...

46.04.600 Traffic control signal
"Traffic control signal" means any traffic device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic alternately is directed to stop or proceed or otherwise ...

46.04.611 Traffic-control devices
Official traffic-control devices means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with Title 46 RCW placed or erected by authority of a public body ...

46.04.620 Trailer
"Trailer" includes every vehicle without motive power designed for being drawn by or used in conjunction with a motor vehicle constructed so that no appreciable ...

46.04.622 Park trailer
"Park trailer" or "park model trailer" means a travel trailer designed to be used with temporary connections to utilities necessary for operation of installed fixtures ...

46.04.62240 Share the Road license plates
"Share the Road license plates" means license plates that commemorate the life of Cooper Jones and display a symbol of an organization that promote[s] bicycle ...

46.04.62250 Signal preemption device
"Signal preemption device" means a device that is capable of altering the normal operation of a traffic control signal. Any such device manufactured by a ...

46.04.62260 Ski & Ride Washington license plates
"Ski & Ride Washington license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30922 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of the Washington ...

46.04.623 Travel trailer
"Travel trailer" means a trailer built on a single chassis transportable upon the public streets and highways that is designed to be used as a ...

46.04.630 Train
"Train" means a vehicle propelled by steam, electricity, or other motive power with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon stationary rails, except streetcars.[1961 c ...

46.04.640 Trolley vehicle
"Trolley vehicle" means a vehicle the motive power for which is supplied by means of a trolley line and which may or may not be ...

46.04.650 Tractor
"Tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a ...

46.04.653 Truck
"Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.[1986 c 18 § 2.] ...

46.04.655 Truck tractor
"Truck tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles but so constructed as to permit carrying a load in addition ...

46.04.660 Used vehicle
"Used vehicle" means a vehicle which has been sold, bargained, exchanged, given away, or title transferred from the person who first took title to it ...

46.04.670 Vehicle
"Vehicle" includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may ...

46.04.672 Vehicle or pedestrian right-of-way
"Vehicle or pedestrian right-of-way" means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian ...

46.04.691 Washington Lighthouses license plates
"Washington Lighthouses license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30911 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of lighthouse environmental programs in ...

46.04.692 Washington's National Park Fund license plates
"Washington's National Park Fund license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30918 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of Washington's National ...

46.04.705 We love our pets license plates
"We love our pets license plates" means license plates issued under RCW 46.16.30914 that display a symbol or artwork recognizing the efforts of the Washington ...

46.04.710 Wheelchair conveyance
"Wheelchair conveyance" means any vehicle specially manufactured or designed for the transportation of a physically or medically impaired wheelchair-bound person. The vehicle may be a ...