Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.61

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.021

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(1) Any person requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction has a duty to stop.
(2) Whenever any person is stopped for a traffic infraction, the officer may detain that person for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of the person's license, insurance identification card, and the vehicle's registration, and complete and issue a notice of traffic infraction.
(3) Any person requested to identify himself or herself to a law enforcement officer pursuant to an investigation of a traffic infraction has a duty to identify himself or herself and give his or her current address.
[ 2006 c 270 s 1; 1997 sp.s. c 1 s 1; 1989 c 353 s 7; 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 4.]

Notes:

Effective date—1997 sp.s. c 1: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [September 17, 1997]." [ 1997 sp.s. c 1 s 2.]
Effective date—1989 c 353: See RCW 46.30.901.
Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 49 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1994–2025 · leading case: State v. Rife
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State v. Rife (1997) wash · cites it 14× “The duty to obey a police officer and the authority of the officer are expressed in RCW 46.61.021, which states: (1) Any person requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction has a duty to stop.”
State v. Rife (1997) wash · cites it 14× “The duty to obey a police officer and the authority of the officer are expressed in RCW 46.61.021, which states: (1) Any person requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction has a duty to stop.”
State v. Moore (2007) wash · cites it 7× “The court thus concluded that Officer French “had lawful authority to ask the defendant his name for committing the traffic infraction of a seatbelt violation” and that “when the defendant provided a false name to them, officers then had probable cause to arrest” him for failing…”
State v. Moore (2007) wash · cites it 7× “The court thus concluded that Officer French "had lawful authority to ask the defendant his name for committing the traffic infraction of a seatbelt violation" and that "when the defendant provided a false name to them, officers then had probable cause to arrest" him for failing…”
State v. Jenkins (2010) conn · cites it 4× “, 676-77; see Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 46.61.021 (2) (West 2005) (“[wjhenever any person is stopped for a traffic infraction, the officer may detain that person for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of…”
Brooks v. City of Seattle (2010) ca9 · cites it 4× “See Wash. Rev.Code §§ 46.61.021, 46.63.060(2)® (official duties when completing and issuing Notice, which requires signature); State v.”
State v. Chelly (1999) washctapp · cites it 8× “The court held that the warrant check was unlawful because neither the Seattle Municipal Code nor RCW 46.61.021 gave the officer authority to search for outstanding arrest warrants upon making a stop for a traffic infraction.”
State v. Cole (1994) washctapp · cites it 5× “A person stopped for a traffic infraction may be detained only for the time reasonably necessary "to identify the person, check the status of the person’s license, insurance identification card, and the vehicle’s registration, and complete and issue a notice of traffic…”
State v. Duncan (2002) wash “[4] In contrast, our Legislature has specifically authorized: Whenever any person is stopped for a traffic infraction, the officer may detain that person for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of the…”
State v. Duncan (2002) wash “RCW 46.61.021(2). Thus, the traffic violation exception to the application of Terry stops for criminal violations is distinguishable from the civil infraction before the court.”
State v. Glossbrener (2002) wash · cites it 2× “RCW 46.61.021(2) provides that an officer may detain a person stopped for a traffic infraction for a reasonable period of time "to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of the person's license, insurance identification card, and the vehicle's…”
State v. Glossbrener (2002) wash · cites it 2× “RCW 46.61.021(2) provides that an officer may detain a person stopped for a traffic infraction for a reasonable period of time “to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of the person’s license, insurance identification card, and the vehicle’s…”
Show all 49 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.021(1) — 7 cases
Brooks v. City of Seattle (2010) ca9 “See Wash. Rev.Code §§ 46.61.021, 46.63.060(2)® (official duties when completing and issuing Notice, which requires signature); State v.”
State v. Meckelson (2006) washctapp
State v. Weaver (2011) washctapp
State v. Gantt (2011) washctapp
State v. Meckelson (2006) washctapp
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.021(2) — 25 cases
State v. Rife (1997) wash “The duty to obey a police officer and the authority of the officer are expressed in RCW 46.61.021, which states: (1) Any person requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction has a duty to stop.”
State v. Rife (1997) wash “The duty to obey a police officer and the authority of the officer are expressed in RCW 46.61.021, which states: (1) Any person requested or signaled to stop by a law enforcement officer for a traffic infraction has a duty to stop.”
State v. Jenkins (2010) conn “, 676-77; see Wash. Rev. Code Ann. § 46.61.021 (2) (West 2005) (“[wjhenever any person is stopped for a traffic infraction, the officer may detain that person for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of…”
State v. Duncan (2002) wash “[4] In contrast, our Legislature has specifically authorized: Whenever any person is stopped for a traffic infraction, the officer may detain that person for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify the person, check for outstanding warrants, check the status of the…”
State v. Duncan (2002) wash “RCW 46.61.021(2). Thus, the traffic violation exception to the application of Terry stops for criminal violations is distinguishable from the civil infraction before the court.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.021(3) — 18 cases
State v. Moore (2007) wash “The court thus concluded that Officer French “had lawful authority to ask the defendant his name for committing the traffic infraction of a seatbelt violation” and that “when the defendant provided a false name to them, officers then had probable cause to arrest” him for failing…”
State v. Moore (2007) wash “The court thus concluded that Officer French "had lawful authority to ask the defendant his name for committing the traffic infraction of a seatbelt violation" and that "when the defendant provided a false name to them, officers then had probable cause to arrest" him for failing…”
State v. Chelly (1999) washctapp “The court held that the warrant check was unlawful because neither the Seattle Municipal Code nor RCW 46.61.021 gave the officer authority to search for outstanding arrest warrants upon making a stop for a traffic infraction.”
State v. Chapin (1994) washctapp
State v. Cole (1994) washctapp “A person stopped for a traffic infraction may be detained only for the time reasonably necessary "to identify the person, check the status of the person’s license, insurance identification card, and the vehicle’s registration, and complete and issue a notice of traffic…”
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