Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.65
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020 (2026)

Habitual offender defined

✓ current as of May 2026
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As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, an habitual offender means any person, resident or nonresident, who has accumulated convictions or findings that the person committed a traffic infraction as defined in RCW 46.20.270, or, if a minor, has violations recorded with the department of licensing, for separate and distinct offenses as described in either subsection (1) or (2) below committed within a five-year period, as evidenced by the records maintained in the department of licensing: PROVIDED, That where more than one described offense is committed within a six-hour period such multiple offenses shall, on the first such occasion, be treated as one offense for the purposes of this chapter:
(1) Three or more convictions, singularly or in combination, of the following offenses:
(a) Vehicular homicide as defined in RCW 46.61.520;
(b) Vehicular assault as defined in RCW 46.61.522;
(c) Driving or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants or drugs;
(d) Driving a motor vehicle while his or her license, permit, or privilege to drive has been suspended or revoked as defined in RCW 46.20.342(1)(b);
(e) Failure of the driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person to immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible and to forthwith return to and in every event remain at, the scene of such accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of RCW 46.52.020;
(f) Reckless driving as defined in RCW 46.61.500;
(g) Being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug as defined in RCW 46.61.504; or
(h) Attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle as defined in RCW 46.61.024;
(2) Twenty or more convictions or findings that the person committed a traffic infraction for separate and distinct offenses, singularly or in combination, in the operation of a motor vehicle that are required to be reported to the department of licensing other than the offenses of driving with an expired driver's license and not having a driver's license in the operator's immediate possession. Such convictions or findings shall include those for offenses enumerated in subsection (1) of this section when taken with and added to those offenses described herein but shall not include convictions or findings for any nonmoving violation. No person may be considered an habitual offender under this subsection unless at least three convictions have occurred within the three hundred sixty-five days immediately preceding the last conviction.
The offenses included in subsections (1) and (2) of this section are deemed to include offenses under any valid town, city, or county ordinance substantially conforming to the provisions cited in subsections (1) and (2) [of this section] or amendments thereto, and any federal law, or any law of another state, including subdivisions thereof, substantially conforming to the aforesaid state statutory provisions.
[ 2010 c 8 s 9078; 1991 c 293 s 7; 1983 c 164 s 7; 1981 c 188 s 1; 1979 ex.s. c 136 s 94; 1979 c 62 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 284 s 4.]

Notes:

Effective date—Severability—1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes following RCW 46.63.010.
Severability—1979 c 62: "If any provision of this 1979 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1979 c 62 s 8.]
Severability—1971 ex.s. c 284: See note following RCW 46.65.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1973–2023 · leading case: State v. Kent, 549 P.2d 721 (Wash. 1976).
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State v. Kent, 549 P.2d 721 (Wash. 1976). · cites it 4× “To achieve this goal, RCW 46.65.020(1) provides for the license revocation of anyone who, within a five-year period receives *106 Three or more convictions, singularly or in combination, of the following offenses: (a) Negligent homicide as defined in RCW 46.”
Wheeler v. State, Dept. of Licensing, 936 P.2d 17 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). · cites it 8× “RCW 46.65.020; see also RCW 46.20.270. Under the statute the same offenses are "deemed to include offenses under any valid town, city, or county ordinance substantially conforming” to the state statutes cited "and any federal law, or any law of another state, including…”
State v. Dolson, 982 P.2d 100 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 3× “Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his or her right to a formal hearing and specify the steps which must be taken in order to obtain a hearing.”
State v. Dolson, 138 Wash. 2d 773 (Wash. 1999). · cites it 3× “The statute reads in part: (1) Whenever a person’s driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing…”
State v. Storhoff, 946 P.2d 783 (Wash. 1997). · cites it 2× “065: When a person is determined to be a habitual traffic offender, as defined by RCW 46.65.020, DOL must notify that person that his or her license will be revoked, and that the person may request a formal hearing: Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his…”
State v. Vahl, 784 P.2d 1280 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 3× “Whenever a person's driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify such a person of the revocation in writing by certified mail at his or…”
State v. Malone, 511 P.2d 67 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). · cites it 3× “They assert, however, that men of common intelligence-have no way of knowing what type of violations are included in RCW 46.65.020(2). They argue that any traffic violation, no matter how insignificant, may be included in this number.”
City of Redmond v. Arroyo-Murillo, 70 P.3d 947 (Wash. 2003). “065: Whenever a person’s driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing by certified mail at his…”
State v. Storhoff, 133 Wash. 2d 523 (Wash. 1997). “065: When a person is determined to be a habitual traffic offender, as defined by RCW 46.65.020, DOL must notify that person that his or her license will be revoked, and that the person may request a formal hearing: Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his…”
State v. Ponce, 611 P.2d 407 (Wash. 1980). · cites it 8× “RCW 46.65.020 defines a habitual traffic offender as an individual who has "[t]hree or more convictions, singularly or in combination," of certain specified traffic offenses committed within a 5-year period.”
Dep't of Licensing v. Ramirez, 661 P.2d 1009 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 5× “060 provides that if the Department finds a driver licensee to be a habitual *433 traffic offender as defined by RCW 46.65.020, it shall revoke the license for 5 years.”
State v. Heath, 532 P.2d 621 (Wash. 1975). · cites it 2× “Said stay shall continue as long as there is no further conviction for any of the offenses listed in RCW 46.65.020(1). Upon a subsequent conviction for any offense listed in RCW 46.”
Show all 28 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020(1) — 8 cases
State v. Kent, 549 P.2d 721 (Wash. 1976). “To achieve this goal, RCW 46.65.020(1) provides for the license revocation of anyone who, within a five-year period receives *106 Three or more convictions, singularly or in combination, of the following offenses: (a) Negligent homicide as defined in RCW 46.”
State v. Dolson, 982 P.2d 100 (Wash. 1999). “Notices of revocation shall inform the recipient thereof of his or her right to a formal hearing and specify the steps which must be taken in order to obtain a hearing.”
State v. Dolson, 138 Wash. 2d 773 (Wash. 1999). “The statute reads in part: (1) Whenever a person’s driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify the person of the revocation in writing…”
State v. Vahl, 784 P.2d 1280 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990). “Whenever a person's driving record, as maintained by the department, brings him or her within the definition of an habitual traffic offender, as defined in RCW 46.65.020, the department shall forthwith notify such a person of the revocation in writing by certified mail at his or…”
State v. Heath, 532 P.2d 621 (Wash. 1975). “Said stay shall continue as long as there is no further conviction for any of the offenses listed in RCW 46.65.020(1). Upon a subsequent conviction for any offense listed in RCW 46.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020(1)(c) — 1 case
State v. Dolson, 957 P.2d 243 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020(1)(d) — 1 case
State v. Dolson, 957 P.2d 243 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020(2) — 5 cases
Wheeler v. State, Dept. of Licensing, 936 P.2d 17 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997). “RCW 46.65.020; see also RCW 46.20.270. Under the statute the same offenses are "deemed to include offenses under any valid town, city, or county ordinance substantially conforming” to the state statutes cited "and any federal law, or any law of another state, including…”
State v. Malone, 511 P.2d 67 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). “They assert, however, that men of common intelligence-have no way of knowing what type of violations are included in RCW 46.65.020(2). They argue that any traffic violation, no matter how insignificant, may be included in this number.”
State v. Ponce, 611 P.2d 407 (Wash. 1980). “RCW 46.65.020 defines a habitual traffic offender as an individual who has "[t]hree or more convictions, singularly or in combination," of certain specified traffic offenses committed within a 5-year period.”
Durfee v. Dep't of Licensing, 662 P.2d 70 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Regan, 514 P.2d 1058 (Wash. 1973).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.65.020(l)(d) — 1 case
State v. Alfonso, 702 P.2d 1218 (Wash. Ct. App. 1985).
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