Wash. Rev. Code » Title 7 · Chapter 7.80
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 7.80.005 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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The legislature finds that many minor offenses that are established as misdemeanors are obsolete or can be more appropriately punished by the imposition of civil fines. The legislature finds that some misdemeanors should be decriminalized to allow resources of the legal system, such as judges, prosecutors, juries, and jails, to be used to punish serious criminal behavior, since acts characterized as criminal behavior have a tremendous fiscal impact on the legal system.
The establishment of a system of civil infractions is a more expeditious and less expensive method of disposing of minor offenses and will decrease the cost and workload of the courts of limited jurisdiction.
[ 1987 c 456 s 6.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3 cases, 2009–2020 · leading case: Post v. City of Tacoma, 217 P.3d 1179 (Wash. 2009).
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Post v. City of Tacoma, 217 P.3d 1179 (Wash. 2009). “See RCW 7.80.005, .010(1). As noted above, Tacoma's MBSC and Tacoma's own correspondence designate violations of the ordinance as civil infractions.”
Post v. City of Tacoma, 167 Wash. 2d 300 (Wash. 2009). “See RCW 7.80.005, .010(1). As noted above, Tacoma’s MBSC and Tacoma’s own correspondence designate violations of the ordinance as civil infractions.”
Passion Works, Inc., Apps/x-resp v. Wa. St. Dept Of Labor & Indus., Resp/x-app (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). “Finally, Rootvik contends that the ALJ presiding over the hearing for Infraction 1 violated his right against self-incrimination when she drew negative 9 The legislature enacted chapter 7.”
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