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

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.120 (2026)

Case record of convictions and infractions

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The director shall keep a case record on every motor vehicle driver licensed under the laws of this state, together with information on each driver, showing all the convictions and findings of traffic infractions certified by the courts, together with an index cross-reference record of each accident reported relating to such individual with a brief statement of the cause of the accident and whether or not the accident resulted in any fatality.
(2) The records shall be for the confidential use of the director, the chief of the Washington state patrol, the director of the Washington traffic safety commission, and for such police officers or other cognizant public officials as may be designated by law. Such case records shall not be admitted into evidence in any court, except where relevant to the prosecution or defense of a criminal charge, or in case appeal is taken from the order of the director, suspending, revoking, canceling, or refusing a vehicle driver's license.
(3) The director shall tabulate and analyze vehicle driver's case records and suspend, revoke, cancel, or refuse a vehicle driver's license to a person when it is deemed from facts contained in the case record of such person that it is for the best interest of public safety that such person be denied the privilege of operating a motor vehicle. The director shall also suspend a person's driver's license if the person fails to attend or complete a driver improvement interview or fails to abide by conditions of probation under RCW 46.20.335. Whenever the director orders the vehicle driver's license of any such person suspended, revoked, or canceled, or refuses the issuance of a vehicle driver's license, such suspension, revocation, cancellation, or refusal is final and effective unless appeal from the decision of the director is taken as provided by law.
[ 2017 c 147 s 9; 2016 c 197 s 4. Prior: 1998 c 218 s 1; 1998 c 165 s 10; 1993 c 501 s 12; 1992 c 32 s 3; 1989 c 178 s 23; 1988 c 38 s 2; 1984 c 99 s 1; 1982 c 52 s 1; 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 83; 1977 ex.s. c 356 s 1; 1967 c 32 s 62; 1961 c 12 s 46.52.120; prior: 1937 c 189 s 144; RRS s 6360-144.]

Notes:

Effective date—1998 c 165 ss 8-14: See note following RCW 46.52.070.
Short title—1998 c 165: See note following RCW 43.59.010.
Effective dates—1989 c 178: See RCW 46.25.901.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases, 1962–2014 · leading case: In Re Adolph, 243 P.3d 540 (Wash. 2010).
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In Re Adolph, 243 P.3d 540 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 6× “The director then compiles "a case record on every motor vehicle driver licensed under the laws of this state .”
City of Lakewood v. Koenig, 343 P.3d 335 (Wash. 2014). · cites it 6× “The city justified the redaction of driver’s license numbers by citation to statutes: *91 Records pertaining to the arrest and prosecution of a Lakewood Police Detective on or around 1/25/05 [The detective’s] Driver’s License number has been redacted pursuant to RCW 46.52.120…”
In re the Pers. Restraint of Adolph, 170 Wash. 2d 556 (Wash. 2010). · cites it 3× “Courts and court clerks across the state forward records of driving-related convictions to the director of licensing.”
State v. McKinney, 60 P.3d 46 (Wash. 2006). “NOTES [1] Defendant Martin's reliance on RCW 46.52.120 is misplaced. That provision places certain restrictions on abstracts that are cross-referenced with accident reports.”
State v. Monson, 784 P.2d 485 (Wash. 1989). “The Director of the Department of Licensing is obliged to prepare case records for all drivers, pursuant to RCW 46.52.120. The special trustworthiness of official written statements, the fact that the reliability of the written statement is such that it will usually be more…”
State v. Harlow, 933 P.2d 1076 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 2× “The records information was obtained pursuant to statutory authority, RCW 46.52.120, and provided articulable reason to stop and investigate Ms.”
State v. Harlow, 85 Wash. App. 557 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “RCW 46.52.120(2) specifically authorizes police use of motor vehicle case records.”
City of Lakewood v. Koenig, 309 P.3d 610 (Wash. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “Here, the City’s response to Koenig’s PRA request as it related to the driver’s license numbers stated, [The Lakewood police detective’s] Driver’s License number has been redacted pursuant to RCW 46.52.120 and RCW 46.52.130. . . . The City has redacted the dates of birth,…”
City of Bremerton v. Bradshaw, 88 P.3d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “For purposes of this subsection, the department shall refer to the driver’s record maintained under RCW 46.52.120 when determining the existence of prior offenses.”
City of Bremerton v. Bradshaw, 88 P.3d 438 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004). “For purposes of this subsection, the department shall refer to the driver's record maintained under RCW 46.52.120 when determining the existence of prior offenses.”
State Ex Rel. Ralston v. Dep't of Licenses, 374 P.2d 571 (Wash. 1962). “5 Records of conviction transmitted by the courts are compiled in the individual case record of the driver concerned, and by RCW 46.52.120, the Director is compelled to “.”
City of Lakewood v. Koenig (Wash. 2014). · cites it 4× “The city stated that the number was redacted pursuant to RCW 46.52.120 and .130, provisions outside the 8 City ofLakewood v.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.120(1) — 2 cases
In Re Adolph, 243 P.3d 540 (Wash. 2010). “The director then compiles "a case record on every motor vehicle driver licensed under the laws of this state .”
In re the Pers. Restraint of Adolph, 170 Wash. 2d 556 (Wash. 2010). “Courts and court clerks across the state forward records of driving-related convictions to the director of licensing.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.52.120(2) — 4 cases
In Re Adolph, 243 P.3d 540 (Wash. 2010). “The director then compiles "a case record on every motor vehicle driver licensed under the laws of this state .”
In re the Pers. Restraint of Adolph, 170 Wash. 2d 556 (Wash. 2010). “Courts and court clerks across the state forward records of driving-related convictions to the director of licensing.”
State v. Harlow, 933 P.2d 1076 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “The records information was obtained pursuant to statutory authority, RCW 46.52.120, and provided articulable reason to stop and investigate Ms.”
State v. Harlow, 85 Wash. App. 557 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “RCW 46.52.120(2) specifically authorizes police use of motor vehicle case records.”
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