Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.85.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026

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The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Jurisdiction" means and includes a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a foreign country, and a state or province of a foreign country.

(2) "Owner" means a person, business firm, or corporation who holds the legal title to a vehicle, or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee, or in the event a vehicle is subject to a lease, contract, or other legal arrangement vesting right of possession or control, for security or otherwise, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the owner shall be deemed to be such person in whom is vested right of possession or control.

(3) "Properly registered," as applied to place of registration, means:

(a) The jurisdiction where the person registering the vehicle has his or her legal residence; or

(b) In the case of a commercial vehicle, the jurisdiction in which it is registered if the commercial enterprise in which such vehicle is used has a place of business therein, and, if the vehicle is most frequently dispatched, garaged, serviced, maintained, operated, or otherwise controlled in or from such place of business, and, the vehicle has been assigned to such place of business; or

(c) In the case of a commercial vehicle, the jurisdiction where, because of an agreement or arrangement between two or more jurisdictions, or pursuant to a declaration, the vehicle has been registered as required by said jurisdiction.

In case of doubt or dispute as to the proper place of registration of a vehicle, the department shall make the final determination, but in making such determination, may confer with departments of the other jurisdictions affected.

[ 2010 c 8 s 9100; 1987 c 244 s 9; 1985 c 173 s 2; 1982 c 227 s 18; 1981 c 222 s 1; 1963 c 106 s 2.]

Notes:

Effective dates—1987 c 244: See note following RCW 46.87.010.

Effective date—1982 c 227: See note following RCW 19.09.100.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 5 cases, 1984–2002 · leading case: Queets Band of Indians v. State, 682 P.2d 909 (Wash. 1984).

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Queets Band of Indians v. State, 682 P.2d 909 (Wash. 1984). · cites it 14× “080, together with the definition of "Jurisdiction" embodied in RCW 46.85.020(2), encompass Indian Tribes recognized as such by the United States government? Queets Band of Indians v.”

State v. Moses, 37 P.3d 1216 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 3× “The Indian tribes, claiming they were jurisdictions within the meaning of Washington’s reciprocal vehicle registration act (RCW 46.85.020), sued in federal court to have the State permanently enjoined from enforcing its vehicle licensing and registration laws as to vehicles…”

State v. Moses, 37 P.3d 1216 (Wash. 2002). · cites it 2× “The Indian tribes, claiming they were jurisdictions within the meaning of Washington's reciprocal vehicle registration act (RCW 46.85.020), sued in federal court to have the State permanently enjoined from enforcing its vehicle licensing and registration laws as to vehicles…”

Queets Band of Indians v. The State of Washington, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe v. The State of Washington, 765 F.2d 1399 (9th Cir. 1985). “The district court permanently enjoined the state from enforcing its motor vehicle licensing and registration requirements on vehicles licensed and registered by the tribes, reasoning that each tribe was a “jurisdiction” as defined in Wash.Rev.Code § 46.85.020(2), for the…”

State v. Wakole, 945 P.2d 421 (Kan. Ct. App. 1997). “The district court found that each tribe was a “jurisdiction” within the meaning of Wash. Rev. Code § 46.85.020 (2) (1987), which states: “ ‘Jurisdiction’ means and includes a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the-District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.85.020(1) — 2 cases

State v. Moses, 37 P.3d 1216 (Wash. 2002). “The Indian tribes, claiming they were jurisdictions within the meaning of Washington’s reciprocal vehicle registration act (RCW 46.85.020), sued in federal court to have the State permanently enjoined from enforcing its vehicle licensing and registration laws as to vehicles…”

State v. Moses, 37 P.3d 1216 (Wash. 2002). “The Indian tribes, claiming they were jurisdictions within the meaning of Washington's reciprocal vehicle registration act (RCW 46.85.020), sued in federal court to have the State permanently enjoined from enforcing its vehicle licensing and registration laws as to vehicles…”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.85.020(2) — 2 cases

Queets Band of Indians v. State, 682 P.2d 909 (Wash. 1984). “080, together with the definition of "Jurisdiction" embodied in RCW 46.85.020(2), encompass Indian Tribes recognized as such by the United States government? Queets Band of Indians v.”

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