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

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.37.070 (2026)

Stop lamps and electric turn signals required

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) After January 1, 1964, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with two or more stop lamps meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1964, shall be equipped with at least one such stop lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the stop lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified in RCW 46.37.200(1).
(2) After January 1, 1960, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall be equipped with electric turn signal lamps meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200(2), except that passenger cars, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, and trucks less than eighty inches in width, manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1953, need not be equipped with electric turn signal lamps.
(3) Every passenger car manufactured or assembled after September 1, 1985; and every passenger truck, passenger van, or passenger sports [sport] utility vehicle manufactured or assembled after September 1, 1993, must be equipped with a rear center high-mounted stop lamp meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200(3).
[ 2006 c 306 s 2; 1977 ex.s. c 355 s 7; 1963 c 154 s 5; 1961 c 12 s 46.37.070. Prior: 1959 c 319 s 32; 1955 c 269 s 7; prior: 1953 c 248 s 2, part; 1947 c 267 s 4, part; 1937 c 189 s 23, part; Rem. Supp. 1947 s 6360-23, part; RCW 46.40.090, part; 1929 c 178 s 1, part; 1927 c 309 s 15, part; RRS s 6362-15, part.]

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.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2023 · leading case: State v. Chelly, 970 P.2d 376 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999).
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State v. Chelly, 970 P.2d 376 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 46.37.070(1). 11 RCW 46.63.020. 12 RCW 46.”
Smith v. Fourre, 858 P.2d 276 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “See RCW 46.37.070; RCW 46.61.305; RCW 5.40.050.”
W. Packing Co. v. Visser, 521 P.2d 939 (Wash. Ct. App. 1974). “RCW 46.37.070 requires stop lamps and electric turn signal lamps upon every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer.”
State Of Washington v. Carmen Rose Lee, 435 P.3d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “41 Because Lee was lawfully seized at the beginning of the traffic stop and remained reasonably seized when she was asked to consent to a search of the purse she left in the car, our inquiry is whether police exceeded the reasonable scope and duration of the traffic stop by…”
State Of Washington v. Jeanette Tara Demmon (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “Officer Mattheis saw that Pastien's vehicle did not have an operating center brake light, a violation of RCW 46.37.070. Demmon argues the trial court erred in concluding that Demmon was not seized during this traffic stop.”
Joseph A. Loiga, V. King Cnty. (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “2d 276 (1993) (testimony that a truck turned without brake lights or turn signal, a violation of RCW 46.37.070, supports and inference of failure to use reasonable care).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.37.070(1) — 1 case
State v. Chelly, 970 P.2d 376 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “10 RCW 46.37.070(1). 11 RCW 46.63.020. 12 RCW 46.”
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