Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.270 (2026)

Driving offenses—Procedures—Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) Every court having jurisdiction over offenses committed under this chapter, or any other act of this state or municipal ordinance adopted by a local authority regulating the operation of motor vehicles on highways, or any federal authority having jurisdiction over offenses substantially the same as those set forth in this title which occur on federal installations within this state, shall immediately forward to the department a forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the defendant's appearance in court, a payment of a fine, penalty, or court cost, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or a finding of guilt, or a finding that any person has committed a traffic infraction an abstract of the court record in the form prescribed by rule of the supreme court, showing the conviction of any person or the finding that any person has committed a traffic infraction in said court for a violation of any said laws other than regulations governing standing, stopping, parking, and pedestrian offenses.

(2) Every state agency or municipality having jurisdiction over offenses committed under this chapter, or under any other act of this state or municipal ordinance adopted by a state or local authority regulating the operation of motor vehicles on highways, may forward to the department within 10 days of failure to respond, failure to pay a penalty, failure to appear at a hearing to contest the determination that a violation of any statute, ordinance, or regulation relating to standing, stopping, parking, or civil penalties issued under RCW 46.63.160 or 46.63.200 has been committed, or failure to appear at a hearing to explain mitigating circumstances, an abstract of the citation record in the form prescribed by rule of the department, showing the finding by such municipality that two or more violations of laws governing standing, stopping, and parking or one or more civil penalties issued under RCW 46.63.160 or 46.63.200 have been committed and indicating the nature of the defendant's failure to act. Such violations or infractions may not have occurred while the vehicle is stolen from the registered owner. The department may enter into agreements of reciprocity with the duly authorized representatives of the states for reporting to each other violations of laws governing standing, stopping, and parking.

(3) For the purposes of this title and except as defined in RCW 46.25.010, "conviction" means a final conviction in a state or municipal court or by any federal authority having jurisdiction over offenses substantially the same as those set forth in this title which occur on federal installations in this state, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court cost, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or a finding of guilt on a traffic law violation charge, regardless of whether the imposition of sentence or sanctions are deferred or the penalty is suspended, but not including entry into a deferred prosecution agreement under chapter 10.05 RCW.

(4) Perfection of a notice of appeal shall stay the execution of the sentence pertaining to the withholding of the driving privilege.

(5) For the purposes of this title, "finding that a traffic infraction has been committed" means a failure to respond to a notice of infraction or a determination made by a court pursuant to this chapter. Payment of a monetary penalty made pursuant to RCW 46.63.070(2) is deemed equivalent to such a finding.

[ 2024 c 308 s 2; 2015 c 189 s 1; 2013 2nd sp.s. c 35 s 17; 2010 c 249 s 11; 2009 c 181 s 1; 2006 c 327 s 1; 2005 c 288 s 3; 2004 c 231 s 5; 1990 2nd ex.s. c 1 s 402; 1990 c 250 s 42; 1982 1st ex.s. c 14 s 5; 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 58; 1979 c 61 s 7; 1977 ex.s. c 3 s 1; 1967 ex.s. c 145 s 55; 1965 ex.s. c 121 s 22; 1961 c 12 s 46.20.270. Prior: 1937 c 188 s 68; RRS s 6312-68; prior: 1923 c 122 s 2, part; 1921 c 108 s 9, part; RRS s 6371, part.]

Notes:

Contingent effective date—2010 c 249: See note following RCW 47.56.795.

Effective date—2005 c 288: See note following RCW 46.20.245.

Severability—1990 2nd ex.s. c 1: See note following RCW 82.14.300.

Effective date—Severability—1982 1st ex.s. c 14: See notes following RCW 46.63.060.

Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 24 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1964–2025 · leading case: City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005).

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City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 7× “¶ 9 Also, we note that in these cases, RCW 46.20.270 provides additional safeguards that did not exist in Moore.”

State v. Michaelson, 878 P.2d 1206 (Wash. 1994). · cites it 8× “hstanding any other provision of this chapter, whenever a child is arrested for a violation of any law, including municipal ordinances, regulating the operation of vehicles on the public highways, a copy of the traffic citation and a record of the action taken by the court shall…”

City of Redmond v. Bagby, 155 Wash. 2d 59 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 6× “f9 Also, we note that in these cases, RCW 46.20.270 provides additional safeguards that did not exist in Moore.”

State v. Gaddy, 152 Wash. 2d 64 (Wash. 2004). “g, RCW 46.20.270 (court must notify DOL within 10 days of conviction of offense requiring suspension or revocation of person’s driver’s license); RCW 46.”

State v. Gaddy, 93 P.3d 872 (Wash. 2004). “, RCW 46.20.270 (court must notify DOL within 10 days of conviction of offense requiring suspension or revocation of person's driver's license); RCW 46.”

City of Bremerton v. Hawkins, 117 P.3d 1132 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 3× “f7 In Bagby, we held that defendants who have their license revoked under either RCW 46.20.270 or RCW 46.20-.265 do not have a constitutional right to a hearing by the Department prior to suspension.”

State v. Hopkins, 36 P.3d 1080 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “The fact that a license suspension is not a part of the maximum “sentence” is made clear by reference to RCW 46.20.270. As that statute provides, a license suspension *573 takes place not upon sentencing, but upon conviction.”

Merseal v. State Dept. of Licensing, 994 P.2d 262 (Wash. Ct. App. 2000). “010(7) defines a conviction, by reference to the personal driver’s licensing provisions of RCW 46.20.270 (conviction of offense requiring license suspension or revocation), as a judicial determination.”

State v. Preston, 832 P.2d 513 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). “He also moved the court to declare that the statute mandating the revocation of Preston's license was unconstitutional. These motions were denied.”

Keyes v. Dep't of Motor Vehs., 528 P.2d 283 (Wash. Ct. App. 1974). · cites it 3× “We need look little further than the definition of the term “conviction” set forth in RCW 46.20.270. That statute provides, in part, as follows: *960 (3) For the purposes of Title 46 the term “conviction” shall mean a final conviction in either a state or municipal court.”

State v. Malone, 511 P.2d 67 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). “1 ’RCW 46.20.270(3) states: “For the purposes of Title 46 the term ‘conviction’ shall mean a final conviction in either a state or municipal court.”

Wheeler v. State, Dept. of Licensing, 936 P.2d 17 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “020; see also RCW 46.20.270. Under the statute the same offenses are "deemed to include offenses under any valid town, city, or county ordinance substantially conforming” to the state statutes cited "and any federal law, or any law of another state, including subdivisions…”

Show all 24 citing cases →

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.270(1) — 3 cases

City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “¶ 9 Also, we note that in these cases, RCW 46.20.270 provides additional safeguards that did not exist in Moore.”

City of Redmond v. Bagby, 155 Wash. 2d 59 (Wash. 2005). “f9 Also, we note that in these cases, RCW 46.20.270 provides additional safeguards that did not exist in Moore.”

State Of Washington, V. E.c.v. (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.270(2) — 1 case

State v. Michaelson, 878 P.2d 1206 (Wash. 1994). “hstanding any other provision of this chapter, whenever a child is arrested for a violation of any law, including municipal ordinances, regulating the operation of vehicles on the public highways, a copy of the traffic citation and a record of the action taken by the court shall…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.270(3) — 4 cases

Keyes v. Dep't of Motor Vehs., 528 P.2d 283 (Wash. Ct. App. 1974). “We need look little further than the definition of the term “conviction” set forth in RCW 46.20.270. That statute provides, in part, as follows: *960 (3) For the purposes of Title 46 the term “conviction” shall mean a final conviction in either a state or municipal court.”

Jacks v. Nelson, 533 P.2d 452 (Wash. Ct. App. 1975).

State Of Washington, V. Amos Carmona Cruz (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.270(4) — 3 cases

State v. Hopkins, 36 P.3d 1080 (Wash. Ct. App. 2001). “The fact that a license suspension is not a part of the maximum “sentence” is made clear by reference to RCW 46.20.270. As that statute provides, a license suspension *573 takes place not upon sentencing, but upon conviction.”

State v. Hopkins, 36 P.3d 1080 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).

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