Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.37
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.37.020 (2026)

When lighted lamps and signaling devices are required

✓ current as of May 2026
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Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet ahead shall display lighted headlights, other lights, and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, and such stop lights, turn signals, and other signaling devices shall be lighted as prescribed for the use of such devices.
[ 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 2; 1974 ex.s. c 124 s 2; 1963 c 154 s 2; 1961 c 12 s 46.37.020. Prior: 1955 c 269 s 2; prior: 1937 c 189 s 14, part; RRS s 6360-14, part; RCW 46.40.010, part; 1929 c 178 s 2; 1927 c 309 s 19; 1921 c 96 s 22, part; 1919 c 59 s 10, part; 1917 c 155 s 15, part; 1915 c 142 s 21, part; RRS s 6362-19.]

Notes:

Severability—1977 ex.s. c 355: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Effective date—1963 c 154: See note following RCW 46.37.010.
Local twenty-four hour headlight policy: RCW 47.04.180.
Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles—When headlamps and tail lamps to be lighted: RCW 46.37.522.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1964–2023 · leading case: State v. Snapp, 275 P.3d 289 (Wash. 2012).
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State v. Snapp, 275 P.3d 289 (Wash. 2012). · cites it 3× “Rather, if Gregorio had a reasonable suspicion that he was violating the statute, the stop was justified.”
State v. Wright, 155 Wash. App. 537 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “020 provides: Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable *558 atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not…”
State v. Creed, 319 P.3d 80 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “3d 289 (2012), the Washington Supreme Court held that a *537 police officer’s Terry 1 stop of a driver on a dark evening for failure to have his headlights illuminated was supported by a reasonable, articulable suspicion even though it was later demonstrated that the officer…”
State v. Wright, 230 P.3d 1063 (Wash. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 3× “020 provides: Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly…”
Sanders v. Crimmins, 388 P.2d 913 (Wash. 1964). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.37.020), in effect at the time of the accident, provided: “Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions,…”
Bauman v. Crawford, 685 P.2d 1104 (Wash. Ct. App. 1984). “780(1) states: "(1) Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the…”
State Of Washington v. Matthew Steven Johnson (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “7 RCW 46.37.020 provides: Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are…”
Sims v. City of Seattle (W.D. Wash. 2023). “This appears to be a 3 violation of RCW 46.37.020 (“When lighted lamps and signaling devices are required”), which 4 states that vehicles “shall display lighted headlights, other lights, and illuminating devices” from 5 a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.”
State of Washington v. Joanne Alysse Creed (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “2d at 198 (quoting RCW 46.37.020). 7 No. 30893-6-111 State v.”
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