Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.670 (2026)
Vehicle
✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov
JustiaTitle on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) "Vehicle" means a device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.
(2) "Vehicle" excludes:
(a) A power wheelchair or device other than a bicycle moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks;
(b) A moped, for the purposes of chapter 46.70 RCW;
(c) A bicycle or a motorized foot scooter, for the purposes of chapter 46.12, 46.16A, or 46.70 RCW, or for RCW 82.12.045;
(d) An electric personal assistive mobility device or a motorized foot scooter, for the purposes of chapter 46.12, 46.16A, 46.29, 46.37, or 46.70 RCW;
(e) A golf cart, except for the purposes of chapter 46.61 RCW; and
[ 2023 c 470 s 1007. Prior: 2019 c 214 s 7; 2019 c 170 s 2; 2011 c 171 s 19; prior: 2010 c 217 s 2; 2010 c 161 s 155; 2003 c 141 s 6; 2002 c 247 s 5; 1994 c 262 s 2; 1991 c 214 s 2; 1979 ex.s. c 213 s 4; 1961 c 12 s 46.04.670; prior: 1959 c 49 s 72; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 s 1, part; 1937 c 188 s 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 s 6312-1, part. (ii) 1937 c 189 s 1, part; RRS s 6360-1, part; 1929 c 180 s 1, part; 1927 c 309 s 2, part; RRS s 6362-2, part.]
Notes:
Explanatory statement—2023 c 470: See note following RCW 10.99.030.
Effective date—2019 c 214: See note following RCW 46.75.010.
Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.
Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.
Legislative review—2002 c 247: See note following RCW 46.04.1695.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 29
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1977–2026 · leading case: State of Washington v. Jacob Daniel Level, 493 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
State of Washington v. Jacob Daniel Level, 493 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “The vehicle and traffic laws define a “vehicle” as a “device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.”
State v. Van Wolvelaere, 461 P.3d 1173 (Wash. 2020). “What purpose would this law serve if a snowmobile were not even “capable of,” RCW 46.04.670, taking advantage of the four listed circumstances? Tucker argues that the first of the four circumstances in RCW 46.”
Pudmaroff v. Allen, 977 P.2d 574 (Wash. 1999). “Statutes variously treat bicycles and bike paths in a recreational context, and at other times the statutes treat them as part of the transportation system.”
Pudmaroff v. Allen, 138 Wash. 2d 55 (Wash. 1999). “Nor are bicycles always considered vehicles; see RCW 46.04.670, 47.04.010(40). For example, bicycles may he operated on both sidewalks and roadways.”
State v. McGary, 683 P.2d 1125 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). “320 defines a "motor vehicle" as "every vehicle which is self-propelled.”
Sperry v. Maki, 740 P.2d 342 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). “RCW 46.04.670 further defines "vehicle" as including every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human or animal power or used…”
Henery v. Robinson, 834 P.2d 1091 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “180(1) if they "disseminate" in any manner whatsoever, any statement or representation with regard to the sale or financing of a vehicle (a mobile home is considered a vehicle, RCW 46.04.670) which is false, deceptive, or misleading, including but not limited to the following:…”
State v. Refuerzo, 7 P.3d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “010 ("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 thereof shall clearly indicate to the contrary.”
State v. Tyson, 658 P.2d 55 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). “Although the defendant is correct in contending that the truck trailer is a "vehicle" as that term is defined in the general vehicle and traffic laws, see RCW 46.04.670, it is not a "motor vehicle" (as discussed in foregoing text of this opinion) and therefore not a "vehicle"…”
State v. Refuerzo, 102 Wash. App. 341 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “010 (“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 thereof shall clearly indicate to the contrary.”
City of Montesano v. Wells, 902 P.2d 1266 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “See former RCW 46.04.670 (Laws of 1961, ch. 12). However, the definition of vehicle was amended in 1991 to include "every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public…”
Pudmaroff v. Allen, 951 P.2d 335 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). “‘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 or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles. In the event a highway includes two or more separated roadways,…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.670(1) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Claude L. Merritt (Wash. Ct. App. 2026).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.04.670(2)(b) — 1 case
State of Washington v. Jacob Daniel Level, 493 P.3d 1230 (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “The vehicle and traffic laws define a “vehicle” as a “device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.