Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.20
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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The department shall revoke the license of any driver for the period of one calendar year unless otherwise provided in this section, upon receiving a record of the driver's conviction of any of the following offenses, when the conviction has become final:
(1) For vehicular homicide the period of revocation shall be two years. The revocation period shall be tolled during any period of total confinement for the offense;
(2) Vehicular assault. The revocation period shall be tolled during any period of total confinement for the offense;
(3) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a narcotic drug, or under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders the driver incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle, for the period prescribed in RCW 46.61.5055;
(4) Any felony where the sentencing court determines that in the commission of the offense a motor vehicle was used in a manner that endangered persons or property;
(5) Failure to stop and give information or render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another or resulting in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by another;
(6) Perjury or the making of a false affidavit or statement under oath to the department under Title 46 RCW or under any other law relating to the ownership or operation of motor vehicles;
(7) Reckless driving upon a showing by the department's records that the conviction is the third such conviction for the driver within a period of two years.
[ 2020 c 16 s 1; 2005 c 288 s 4; 2001 c 64 s 6. Prior: 1998 c 207 s 4; 1998 c 41 s 3; 1996 c 199 s 5; 1990 c 250 s 43; 1985 c 407 s 2; 1984 c 258 s 324; 1983 c 165 s 16; 1983 c 165 s 15; 1965 ex.s. c 121 s 24.]

Notes:

Effective date—2020 c 16: "This act takes effect January 1, 2022." [ 2020 c 16 s 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 288: See note following RCW 46.20.245.
Effective date—1998 c 207: See note following RCW 46.61.5055.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—1998 c 41: See notes following RCW 46.20.265.
Severability—1996 c 199: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.
Effective dates—1985 c 407: See note following RCW 46.04.480.
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Intent—1984 c 258: See note following RCW 3.34.130.
Legislative finding, intent—Effective dates—Severability—1983 c 165: See notes following RCW 46.20.308.
Revocation of license for attempting to elude pursuing police vehicle: RCW 46.61.024.
Vehicular assault, penalty: RCW 46.61.522.
Vehicular homicide, penalty: RCW 46.61.520.
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RCW 46.20.285

Offenses Requiring Revocation. (Effective October 1, 2025.)

The department shall revoke the license of any driver for the period of one year unless otherwise provided in this section, upon receiving a record of the driver's conviction of any of the following offenses, when the conviction has become final:
(1) For vehicular homicide the period of revocation shall be two years. The revocation period shall be tolled during any period of total confinement for the offense;
(2) Vehicular assault. The revocation period shall be tolled during any period of total confinement for the offense;
(3) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a narcotic drug, or under the influence of any other drug to a degree that renders the driver incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle, for the period prescribed in RCW 46.61.5055;
(4) Any felony where the sentencing court determines that in the commission of the offense a motor vehicle was used in a manner that endangered persons or property;
(5) Failure to stop and give information or render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another or resulting in damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by another;
(6) Perjury or the making of a false affidavit or statement under oath to the department under this title or under any other law relating to the ownership or operation of motor vehicles;
(7) Reckless driving upon a showing by the department's records that the conviction is the third such conviction for the driver within a period of two years.
[ 2025 c 23 s 6; 2020 c 16 s 1; 2005 c 288 s 4; 2001 c 64 s 6. Prior: 1998 c 207 s 4; 1998 c 41 s 3; 1996 c 199 s 5; 1990 c 250 s 43; 1985 c 407 s 2; 1984 c 258 s 324; 1983 c 165 s 16; 1983 c 165 s 15; 1965 ex.s. c 121 s 24.]

Notes:

Effective date—2025 c 23 ss 1-4 and 6-14: See note following RCW 46.04.480.
Effective date—2020 c 16: "This act takes effect January 1, 2022." [ 2020 c 16 s 2.]
Effective date—2005 c 288: See note following RCW 46.20.245.
Effective date—1998 c 207: See note following RCW 46.61.5055.
Intent—Construction—Effective date—1998 c 41: See notes following RCW 46.20.265.
Severability—1996 c 199: See note following RCW 9.94A.505.
Effective dates—1985 c 407: See note following RCW 46.04.480.
Court Improvement Act of 1984—Effective dates—Severability—Short title—1984 c 258: See notes following RCW 3.30.010.
Intent—1984 c 258: See note following RCW 3.34.130.
Legislative finding, intent—Effective dates—Severability—1983 c 165: See notes following RCW 46.20.308.
Revocation of license for attempting to elude pursuing police vehicle: RCW 46.61.024.
Vehicular assault, penalty: RCW 46.61.522.
Vehicular homicide, penalty: RCW 46.61.520.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 42 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1972–2025 · leading case: State v. Dykstra, 110 P.3d 758 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).
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State v. Dykstra, 110 P.3d 758 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 7× “The court concluded that the *7 convictions constituted felonies involving the use of an automobile.”
State v. Dykstra, 110 P.3d 758 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 7× “And they therefore triggered the mandatory driver's license revocation provisions of RCW 46.20.285. [3] DISCUSSION ADMISSION OF MR.”
State v. Griffin, 109 P.3d 870 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 10× “[7] ¶ 8 RCW 46.20.285, which is located in a portion of RCW 46.”
State v. Griffin, 126 Wash. App. 700 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 10× “7 ¶8 RCW 46.20.285, which is located in a portion of chapter 46.”
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 9× “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
State v. B.E.K., 141 Wash. App. 742 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 7× “¶10 Washington’s license revocation statute, RCW 46.20.285, mandates that the DOL revoke a driver’s license for one year where the driver has a final conviction for “[a]ny *746 felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.”
State v. Batten, 140 Wash. 2d 362 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 5× “Although RCW 46.20.285 has existed in essentially its present form since 1937, the issue that is before us has never been presented to this court until now.”
State v. Batten, 997 P.2d 350 (Wash. 2000). · cites it 5× “We believe this is a sufficient relationship between the contraband and the vehicle to bring the possession of the substance within the ambit of the statute.”
State v. Hearn, 131 Wash. App. 601 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.20.285(4). ¶2 Because Ms. Hearn has not identified the statute under which her license was suspended and the record does not reflect the information, we cannot review her Moore claim.”
State v. Dupuis, 278 P.3d 683 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 20× “ANALYSIS Applicability of License Revocation Statute, RCW 46.20.285 ¶5 RCW 46.20.285(4) requires revocation of the driver’s license of any person who uses a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony.”
State of Washington v. Thomas Lee Weatherwax, 193 Wash. App. 667 (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “The finding is relevant to RCW 46.20.285, under which the Department of Motor Vehicles "shall revoke the license of any driver for the period of one calendar year upon receiving a record of the driver's conviction of [certain offenses].”
State v. R.L.D., 132 Wash. App. 699 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 3× “The trial court declined to follow the State’s deferred disposition recommendation, found factors supporting a manifest injustice beyond a reasonable doubt, 4 and imposed a 52- to 65-week confinement disposition. ¶11 The court further found that R.L.”
Show all 42 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(1) — 2 cases
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
State v. Dupuis, 278 P.3d 683 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “ANALYSIS Applicability of License Revocation Statute, RCW 46.20.285 ¶5 RCW 46.20.285(4) requires revocation of the driver’s license of any person who uses a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(2) — 1 case
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(3) — 2 cases
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
State Of Washington, V. E.c.v. (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(4) — 31 cases
State v. Griffin, 109 P.3d 870 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “[7] ¶ 8 RCW 46.20.285, which is located in a portion of RCW 46.”
State v. Griffin, 126 Wash. App. 700 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005). “7 ¶8 RCW 46.20.285, which is located in a portion of chapter 46.”
State v. B.E.K., 141 Wash. App. 742 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “¶10 Washington’s license revocation statute, RCW 46.20.285, mandates that the DOL revoke a driver’s license for one year where the driver has a final conviction for “[a]ny *746 felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.”
State v. Hearn, 131 Wash. App. 601 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006). “RCW 46.20.285(4). ¶2 Because Ms. Hearn has not identified the statute under which her license was suspended and the record does not reflect the information, we cannot review her Moore claim.”
State v. Batten, 140 Wash. 2d 362 (Wash. 2000). “Although RCW 46.20.285 has existed in essentially its present form since 1937, the issue that is before us has never been presented to this court until now.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(5) — 1 case
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(6) — 2 cases
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
State v. Dupuis, 278 P.3d 683 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “ANALYSIS Applicability of License Revocation Statute, RCW 46.20.285 ¶5 RCW 46.20.285(4) requires revocation of the driver’s license of any person who uses a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.20.285(7) — 1 case
City of Redmond v. Bagby, 117 P.3d 1126 (Wash. 2005). “Under RCW 46.20.285, the license suspension is stayed until the conviction becomes final.”
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