Wash. Rev. Code » Title 9A · Chapter 9A.36
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.050 (2026)

Reckless endangerment

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of reckless endangerment when he or she recklessly engages in conduct not amounting to drive-by shooting but that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.
(2) Reckless endangerment is a gross misdemeanor.
[ 1997 c 338 s 45; 1989 c 271 s 110; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 s 9A.36.050.]

Notes:

Finding—Evaluation—Report—1997 c 338: See note following RCW 13.40.0357.
Severability—Effective dates—1997 c 338: See notes following RCW 5.60.060.
Finding—Intent—1989 c 271 ss 102, 109, and 110: "The legislature finds that increased trafficking in illegal drugs has increased the likelihood of "drive-by shootings." It is the intent of the legislature in sections 102, 109, and 110 of this act to categorize such reckless and criminal activity into a separate crime and to provide for an appropriate punishment." [ 1989 c 271 s 108.]
Application—1989 c 271 ss 101-111: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.
Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.
Criminal history and driving record: RCW 46.61.513.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 60 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1978–2025 · leading case: State v. Rich, 365 P.3d 746 (Wash. 2016).
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State v. Rich, 365 P.3d 746 (Wash. 2016). · cites it 5× “506; RCW 9A.36.050. The evidence showed that Rich was speeding in traffic while highly intoxicated and with a young child in the front passenger seat.”
State v. Graham, 103 P.3d 1238 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 10× “f 2 We hold that the unit of prosecution for the offense of reckless endangerment is each person endangered; consequently, the State permissibly charged Graham with three violations of RCW 9A.36.050(1). We also conclude that the juvenile court’s findings support its…”
United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019). “195(1) (2017) ("substantial risk of serious physical injury"); Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.050(1) (2018) ("substantial risk of death or serious physical injury").”
State v. Wilson, 113 Wash. App. 122 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 3× “Wilson was convicted of second degree reckless endangerment, RCW 9A.36.050. The statutory citation is correct, but there is only one degree of reckless endangerment.”
State v. Wilson, 52 P.3d 545 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 3× “Wilson was convicted of second degree reckless endangerment, RCW 9A.36.050. The statutory citation is correct, but there is only one degree of reckless endangerment.”
State v. Ose, 156 Wash. 2d 140 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “” RCW 9A.36.050(1) (emphasis added). The Graham court interpreted “another” as a “compound of ‘an + other,’ and the indefinite article ‘an’ means ‘a,’ the letter n being an addition before a following vowel sound.”
State v. Ose, 124 P.3d 635 (Wash. 2005). · cites it 2× “" RCW 9A.36.050(1) (emphasis added). The Graham court interpreted "another" as a "compound of `an + other,' and the indefinite article `an' means `a,' the letter n being an addition before a following vowel *639 sound.”
State v. Newbern, 975 P.2d 1041 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 3× “"A person is guilty of an attempt to commit crime if, with intent to commit a specific crime, he does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime.”
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Peasley, 932 P.2d 1244 (Wash. 1997). · cites it 2× “" RCW 9A.36.050(1). A reckless act creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury is undeniably a serious act and a serious crime.”
Allstate Ins. v. Peasley, 131 Wash. 2d 420 (Wash. 1997). · cites it 2× “” RCW 9A.36.050(1). A reckless act creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury is undeniably a serious act and a serious crime.”
In Re the Welfare of Wilson, 588 P.2d 1161 (Wash. 1979). · cites it 2× “RCW 9A.36.050. 2 *489 The juvenile court found the evidence sufficient to support a determination that petitioner, Ronald E.”
State v. Elmi, 207 P.3d 439 (Wash. 2009). “" RCW 9A.36.050. With these statutes and the conceptual difficulties that arise when intent is transferred to uninjured victims, I find it unlikely that the legislature intended the first degree assault statute as a vehicle to impose nearly limitless criminal liability.”
Show all 60 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.050(1) — 30 cases
State v. Rich, 365 P.3d 746 (Wash. 2016). “506; RCW 9A.36.050. The evidence showed that Rich was speeding in traffic while highly intoxicated and with a young child in the front passenger seat.”
State v. Graham, 103 P.3d 1238 (Wash. 2005). “f 2 We hold that the unit of prosecution for the offense of reckless endangerment is each person endangered; consequently, the State permissibly charged Graham with three violations of RCW 9A.36.050(1). We also conclude that the juvenile court’s findings support its…”
United States v. Davis, 139 S. Ct. 2319 (2019). “195(1) (2017) ("substantial risk of serious physical injury"); Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.050(1) (2018) ("substantial risk of death or serious physical injury").”
State v. Ose, 156 Wash. 2d 140 (Wash. 2005). “” RCW 9A.36.050(1) (emphasis added). The Graham court interpreted “another” as a “compound of ‘an + other,’ and the indefinite article ‘an’ means ‘a,’ the letter n being an addition before a following vowel sound.”
State v. Ose, 124 P.3d 635 (Wash. 2005). “" RCW 9A.36.050(1) (emphasis added). The Graham court interpreted "another" as a "compound of `an + other,' and the indefinite article `an' means `a,' the letter n being an addition before a following vowel *639 sound.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 9A.36.050(2) — 3 cases
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Peasley, 932 P.2d 1244 (Wash. 1997). “" RCW 9A.36.050(1). A reckless act creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury is undeniably a serious act and a serious crime.”
Allstate Ins. v. Peasley, 131 Wash. 2d 420 (Wash. 1997). “” RCW 9A.36.050(1). A reckless act creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury is undeniably a serious act and a serious crime.”
State of Washington v. Ronald Payne Prominski (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).
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