Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.04
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.370 (2026)

Operator or driver

✓ current as of May 2026
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"Operator or driver" means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
[ 1975 c 62 s 6; 1967 c 32 s 1; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.370. Prior: 1959 c 49 s 38; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, part; 1923 c 181 s 1, part; 1921 c 96 s 2, part; RRS s 6313, part. (ii) 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360-1, part.]

Notes:

Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1984–2008 · leading case: North Pac. Ins. Co. v. Christensen, 17 P.3d 596 (Wash. 2001).
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North Pac. Ins. Co. v. Christensen, 17 P.3d 596 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 3× “(quoting RCW 46.04.370). Miss Arambul argued that she was not the operator of the vehicle "because she had no control of the gas, brake, or gearshift, and only split-second contact with the steering wheel.”
State v. Arambul, 683 P.2d 1123 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 3× “520 and RCW 46.04.370 when the collision occurred.”
State v. Smelter, 674 P.2d 690 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). “An "operator or driver" is defined as one "who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle", RCW 46.04.370, the disjunctive formulation suggesting that two different types of activity are contemplated.”
North Pac. Ins. v. Christensen, 17 P.3d 596 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 3× “(quoting RCW 46.04.370). Miss Arambul argued that she was not the operator of the vehicle “because she had no control of the gas, brake, or gearshift, and only split-second contact with the steering wheel.”
State v. Pink, 185 P.3d 634 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “" RCW 46.04.370. See Tyrrell v. Farmers Ins.”
State v. Pink, 144 Wash. App. 945 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “” RCW 46.04.370; see Tyrrell v. Farmers Ins.”
City of Spokane v. Port, 716 P.2d 945 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). “RCW 46.04.370 eliminates any alleged ambiguity with respect to the violation here because the section defines an operator or driver as "every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.”
The City of Sunnyside v. Wendt, 755 P.2d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). “) Operator is defined in RCW 46.04.370 as "every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.”
McCrea v. Denison, 885 P.2d 856 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “RCW 46.04.370. Other states have defined the term operation of a motor vehicle to include "nearly any activity thát deals specifically with the motor vehicle, i.”
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