Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.61
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.440 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Subject to RCW 46.61.400(1), and except in those instances where a lower maximum lawful speed is provided by this chapter or otherwise, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to operate the same at a speed in excess of twenty miles per hour when operating any vehicle upon a highway either inside or outside an incorporated city or town when passing any marked school or playground crosswalk when such marked crosswalk is fully posted with standard school speed limit signs or standard playground speed limit signs. The speed zone at the crosswalk shall extend three hundred feet in either direction from the marked crosswalk.
(2) A county or incorporated city or town may create a school or playground speed zone on a highway bordering a marked school or playground, in which zone it is unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle at a speed in excess of twenty miles per hour. The school or playground speed zone may extend three hundred feet from the border of the school or playground property; however, the speed zone may only include area consistent with active school or playground use.
(3) A person found to have committed any infraction relating to speed restrictions within a school or playground speed zone shall be assessed a monetary penalty equal to twice the penalty assessed under RCW 46.63.110. This penalty may not be waived, reduced, or suspended.
(4) School districts may erect signs that comply with the uniform state standards adopted and designated by the department of transportation under RCW 47.36.030, informing motorists of the increased monetary penalties assessed for violations of RCW 46.61.235, 46.61.245, or 46.61.261 within a school, playground, or crosswalk speed zone created under subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
(5) The school zone safety account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Fifty percent of the moneys collected under subsection (3) of this section and the moneys collected under RCW 46.61.235(5), 46.61.245(2), or 46.61.261(2) shall be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only by the Washington traffic safety commission solely to fund projects in local communities to improve school zone safety, pupil transportation safety, and student safety in school bus loading and unloading areas. Only the director of the traffic safety commission or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures until July 1, 1999, after which date moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
[ 2010 c 242 s 4; 2003 c 192 s 1; 1997 c 80 s 2; 1996 c 114 s 1; 1975 c 62 s 34; 1963 c 16 s 5; 1961 c 12 s 46.48.023. Prior: 1951 c 28 s 9; 1949 c 196 s 6, part; 1947 c 200 s 8, part; 1937 c 189 s 64, part; Rem. Supp. 1949 s 6360-64, part; 1927 c 309 s 3, part; 1923 c 181 s 6, part; 1921 c 96 s 27, part; 1917 c 155 s 16, part; 1915 c 142 s 24, part; RRS s 6362-3, part; 1909 c 249 s 279, part; Rem. & Bal. s 2531, part. Formerly RCW 46.48.023.]

Notes:

Effective date—2010 c 242: See note following RCW 46.61.275.
Effective date—1996 c 114: "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 [March 20, 1996]." [ 1996 c 114 s 2.]
Severability—1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1995–2022 · leading case: Brooks v. City of Seattle, 599 F.3d 1018 (9th Cir. 2010).
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Brooks v. City of Seattle, 599 F.3d 1018 (9th Cir. 2010). “100; Wash. Rev.Code §§ 46.61.440, 46.63.020. All the Officers had authority to do at that point was to “detain” Brooks “for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify [her], check for outstanding warrants, check the status of [her] license, insurance identification card,…”
City of Seattle v. Williams, 128 Wash. 2d 341 (Wash. 1995). “400 or RCW 46.61.440. In addition, RCW 46.61.5191 and RCW 35.”
City of Seattle v. Williams, 908 P.2d 359 (Wash. 1995). “400 or RCW 46.61.440. In addition, RCW 46.61.5191 and RCW 35.”
Williams v. City of Spokane, 505 P.3d 91 (Wash. 2022). “Speeding in a school zone is one such infraction, defined by RCW 46.61.440(1). Therefore, like “all cases involving infractions,” the disposition of Williams’s infraction is governed by the “uniform and expeditious system” established in chapter 46.”
Unknown, 623 F.3d 911. “100; Wash. Rev.Code §§ 46.61.440, 46.63.020. All the Officers had authority to do at that point was to "detain" Brooks "for a reasonable period of time necessary to identify [her], check for outstanding warrants, check the status of [her] license, insurance identification card,…”
Chris Williams v. City of Spokane (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “On March 11, 2016, the City of Spokane issued Chris Williams a notice of infraction for speeding in the Longfellow Elementary School speed zone in violation of RCW 46.61.440. The notice alleged that, on March 1 at 3:16 p.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.440(1) — 1 case
Williams v. City of Spokane, 505 P.3d 91 (Wash. 2022). “Speeding in a school zone is one such infraction, defined by RCW 46.61.440(1). Therefore, like “all cases involving infractions,” the disposition of Williams’s infraction is governed by the “uniform and expeditious system” established in chapter 46.”
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