Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.52
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.010 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The operator of any vehicle which collided with any other vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle of the name and address of the operator and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck a written notice, giving the name and address of the operator and of the owner of the vehicle striking such other vehicle.
(2) The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to property fixed or placed upon or adjacent to any public highway shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of the name and address of the operator and owner of the vehicle striking such property, or shall leave in a conspicuous place upon the property struck a written notice, giving the name and address of the operator and of the owner of the vehicle so striking the property, and such person shall further make report of such accident as in the case of other accidents upon the public highways of this state.
(3) Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
[ 2003 c 53 s 241; 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 79; 1961 c 12 s 46.52.010. Prior: 1937 c 189 s 133; RRS s 6360-133; 1927 c 309 s 50, part; RRS s 6362-50, part.]

Notes:

Rules of court: Bail in criminal traffic offense cases—Mandatory appearance—CrRLJ 3.2.
Intent—Effective date—2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.
Arrest of person violating duty on striking unattended vehicle or other property: RCW 10.31.100.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1987–2025 · leading case: State v. Johnson, 829 P.2d 1082 (Wash. 1992).
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State v. Johnson, 829 P.2d 1082 (Wash. 1992). · cites it 2× “Under RCW 46.52.010 or .020, one must be involved in a collision or an accident resulting in property damage or bodily injury as a predicate to being convicted of hit and run.”
State v. Williams, 750 P.2d 278 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.52.010 makes it a misdemeanor for the operator of a motor vehicle involved in a collision resulting in damage to an unattended vehicle or to property adjacent to a public highway to fail to stop and to take reasonable steps to locate the owner or to leave a written notice…”
State v. Reding, 835 P.2d 1019 (Wash. 1992). “100(3) lists several other traffic offenses that were not decriminalized in 1979: failing to take the necessary steps after striking an unattended car or property (a misdemeanor under RCW 46.52.010); falling to take the necessary steps when there is injury or death of a person…”
The City of Sunnyside v. Wendt, 755 P.2d 847 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “" (2) The most recent driver of a motor vehicle which the driver has left standing unattended, who learns that the vehicle has become set in motion and has struck another vehicle or property, or has caused injury to any person, shall comply with the requirements of: "(a) RCW…”
City of Walla Walla v. Ashby, 952 P.2d 201 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “Today we decide whether the superior court erred when reversing a municipal court’s restitution order and remanding for a cause hearing in Jamie Ashby’s hit- and-run conviction under RCW 46.52.010. We affirm the superior court’s order reversing the municipal court’s restitution…”
State v. Apodaca, 839 P.2d 352 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 4× “He argues the consent was obtained only after the officers erroneously claimed *739 they could obtain a telephone warrant.”
State v. Hughes, 907 P.2d 336 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “The current statutes retain the 1937 distinction: RCW 46.52.010 describes the duties of an operator of a vehicle "which collided with any other vehicle which is unattended” and those of the driver of a vehicle "involved in an accident” resulting only in damage to property on or…”
City of Edmonds v. Ostby, 740 P.2d 916 (Wash. Ct. App. 1987). “(2) The provisions of RCW 46.52.010 through 46.52.090 and 46.61.”
State v. Thomas, 950 P.2d 498 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998). “(3) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person: (a) RCW 46.52.010, relating to duty on striking an unattended car or other…”
State Of Washington v. Bisai Serrano Coronel (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 3× “2d 1019 (1992) (synthesizing a driver’s duty under RCW 46.52.010). Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to reasonably find Serrano Coronel guilty of hit and run of an unattended vehicle.”
State of Washington v. Eluterio Morfin-Camacho (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “010(2) governs the circumstance of an accident resulting in property damage, while RCW 46.52.010(1) the charges but claimed justification, we do not see that the findings prejudiced the appeal, so there is no need to remand for a more thorough explanation.”
State of Washington v. Caleb Earl Loutzenhiser (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “I The trial court did not render a jury instruction for hit and run of an unattended vehicle in violation of RCW 46.52.010(1), as charged in count six of the information.”
Show all 18 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.010(1) — 6 cases
State Of Washington v. Bisai Serrano Coronel (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “2d 1019 (1992) (synthesizing a driver’s duty under RCW 46.52.010). Viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, there was sufficient evidence for the jury to reasonably find Serrano Coronel guilty of hit and run of an unattended vehicle.”
State of Washington v. Caleb Earl Loutzenhiser (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “I The trial court did not render a jury instruction for hit and run of an unattended vehicle in violation of RCW 46.52.010(1), as charged in count six of the information.”
State Of Washington v. Bernabe John Love (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
State of Washington v. Javier Giles (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).
State of Washington v. S.J. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.010(2) — 3 cases
State of Washington v. Eluterio Morfin-Camacho (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). “010(2) governs the circumstance of an accident resulting in property damage, while RCW 46.52.010(1) the charges but claimed justification, we do not see that the findings prejudiced the appeal, so there is no need to remand for a more thorough explanation.”
State of Washington v. Caleb Earl Loutzenhiser (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “I The trial court did not render a jury instruction for hit and run of an unattended vehicle in violation of RCW 46.52.010(1), as charged in count six of the information.”
State of Washington v. Jessie M. Allert (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).
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