Vehicle noise cameras

AN ACT Relating to authorizing the use of automated vehicle noise 1
enforcement cameras in vehicle-racing camera enforcement zones; 2
amending RCW 46.63.210, 46.63.220, 46.63.030, and 46.63.075; 3
reenacting and amending RCW 46.16A.120; adding a new section to 4
chapter 46.63 RCW; and providing an effective date.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6
Sec. 1. RCW 46.63.210 and 2024 c 307 s 1 are each amended to 7
read as follows: 8
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section 9
((and)), RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260, and section 2 of this act, 10
unless the context clearly requires otherwise. 11
(1) "Automated traffic safety camera" means a device that uses a 12
vehicle sensor installed to work in conjunction with an intersection 13
traffic control system, a railroad grade crossing control system, or 14
a speed measuring device, and a camera synchronized to automatically 15
record one or more sequenced photographs, microphotographs, or 16
electronic images of the front or rear of a motor vehicle at the time 17
the vehicle fails to stop when facing a steady red traffic control 18
signal or an activated railroad grade crossing control signal, or 19
exceeds a speed limit as detected by a speed measuring device. 20
"Automated traffic safety camera" also includes a device used to 21
H-0352.4
HOUSE BILL 1423
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Donaghy, Leavitt, Stearns, Davis, Berry, Richards,
Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Bronoske, Duerr, Peterson, Reed, Ramel, Doglio,
Tharinger, Cortes, Fosse, and Pollet
Read first time 01/20/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 1423
detect stopping at intersection or crosswalk violations; stopping 1
when traffic obstructed violations; public transportation only lane 2
violations; stopping or traveling in restricted lane violations; 3
((and)) public transportation bus stop zone violations detected by a 4
public transportation vehicle-mounted system ; and automated vehicle 5
noise enforcement cameras, which are devices that use a combination 6
of camera and microphone technologies to capture audio and visual 7
data on a device in an encrypted manner and are used to detect racing 8
of vehicle violations and maximum permissible vehicle equipment sound 9
level violations. 10
(2) "Hospital speed zone" means the marked area within hospital 11
property and extending 300 feet from the border of the hospital 12
property (a) consistent with hospital use; and (b) where signs are 13
posted to indicate the location is within a hospital speed zone, 14
where "hospital" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.41.020.15
(3) "Public park speed zone" means the marked area within public 16
park property and extending 300 feet from the border of the public 17
park property (a) consistent with active park use; and (b) where 18
signs are posted to indicate the location is within a public park 19
speed zone. 20
(4) "Public transportation vehicle" means any motor vehicle, 21
streetcar, train, trolley vehicle, ferry boat, or any other device, 22
vessel, or vehicle that is owned or operated by a transit authority 23
or an entity providing service on behalf of a transit authority that 24
is used for the purpose of carrying passengers and that operates on 25
established routes. "Transit authority" has the same meaning as 26
provided in RCW 9.91.025. 27
(5) "Roadway work zone" means an area of any city roadway, 28
including state highways that are also classified as city streets 29
under chapter 47.24 RCW, or county road as defined in RCW 46.04.150, 30
with construction, maintenance, or utility work with a duration of 30 31
calendar days or more. A roadway work zone is identified by the 32
placement of temporary traffic control devices that may include 33
signs, channelizing devices, barriers, pavement markings, and/or work 34
vehicles with warning lights. A roadway work zone extends from the 35
first warning sign or high intensity rotating, flashing, oscillating, 36
or strobe lights on a vehicle to the end road work sign or the last 37
temporary traffic control device or vehicle. 38
(6) "School speed zone" has the same meaning as described in RCW 39
46.61.440 (1) and (2). 40
p. 2 HB 1423
(7) "School walk zone" means a roadway identified under RCW 1
28A.160.160 or roadways within a one-mile radius of a school that 2
students use to travel to school by foot, bicycle, or other means of 3
active transportation. 4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.63 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) Automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras may be used to 7
detect racing of vehicle violations and maximum permissible vehicle 8
equipment sound level violations, subject to RCW 46.63.220.9
(2) Automated vehicle noise enforcement cameras may only be used 10
to detect violations in zones designated by ordinance as vehicle-11
racing camera enforcement zones. 12
Sec. 3. RCW 46.63.220 and 2024 c 307 s 2 are each amended to 13
read as follows: 14
(1) Nothing in this section prohibits a law enforcement officer 15
from issuing a notice of traffic infraction to a person in control of 16
a vehicle at the time a violation occurs under RCW 46.63.030(1) (a), 17
(b), or (c). 18
(2) Any city or county may authorize the use of automated traffic 19
safety cameras and must adopt an ordinance authorizing such use 20
through its local legislative authority. 21
(3) The local legislative authority must prepare an analysis of 22
the locations within the jurisdiction where automated traffic safety 23
cameras are proposed to be located before adding traffic safety 24
cameras to a new location or relocating any existing camera to a new 25
location within the jurisdiction. The analysis must include equity 26
considerations including the impact of the camera placement on 27
livability, accessibility, economics, education, and environmental 28
health when identifying where to locate an automated traffic safety 29
camera. The analysis must also show a demonstrated need for traffic 30
cameras based on one or more of the following in the vicinity of the 31
proposed camera location: Travel by vulnerable road users, evidence 32
of vehicles speeding, rates of collision, reports showing near 33
collisions, and anticipated or actual ineffectiveness or 34
infeasibility of other mitigation measures. 35
(4) Automated traffic safety cameras may not be used on an on-36
ramp to a limited access facility as defined in RCW 47.52.010.37
p. 3 HB 1423
(5) A city may use automated traffic safety cameras to enforce 1
traffic ordinances in this section on state highways that are also 2
classified as city streets under chapter 47.24 RCW. A city government 3
must notify the department of transportation when it installs an 4
automated traffic safety camera to enforce traffic ordinances as 5
authorized in this subsection. 6
(6)(a) At a minimum, a local ordinance adopted pursuant to this 7
section must contain the restrictions described in this section and 8
provisions for public notice and signage. Cities and counties must 9
also post such restrictions and other automated traffic safety camera 10
policies on the city's or county's website. Cities and counties using 11
automated traffic safety cameras before July 24, 2005, are subject to 12
the restrictions described in this section, but are not required to 13
adopt an authorizing ordinance. 14
(b)(i) Cities and counties using automated traffic safety cameras 15
must post an annual report on the city's or county's website of the 16
number of traffic crashes that occurred at each location where an 17
automated traffic safety camera is located, as well as the number of 18
notices of infraction issued for each camera. Beginning January 1, 19
2026, the annual report must include the percentage of revenues 20
received from fines issued from automated traffic safety camera 21
infractions that were used to pay for the costs of the automated 22
traffic safety camera program and must describe the uses of revenues 23
that exceeded the costs of operation and administration of the 24
automated traffic safety camera program by the city or county.25
(ii) The Washington traffic safety commission must provide an 26
annual report to the transportation committees of the legislature, 27
and post the report to its website for public access, beginning July 28
1, 2026, that includes aggregated information on the use of automated 29
traffic safety cameras in the state that includes an assessment of 30
the impact of their use, information required in city and county 31
annual reports under (b)(i) of this subsection, and information on 32
the number of automated traffic safety cameras in use by type and 33
location, with an analysis of camera placement in the context of area 34
demographics and household incomes. To the extent practicable, the 35
commission must also provide in its annual report the number of 36
traffic accidents, speeding violations, single vehicle accidents, 37
pedestrian accidents, and driving under the influence violations that 38
occurred at each location where an automated traffic safety camera is 39
located in the five years before each camera's authorization and 40
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after each camera's authorization. Cities and counties using 1
automated traffic safety cameras must provide the commission with the 2
data it requests for the report required under this subsection in a 3
form and manner specified by the commission. 4
(7) All locations where an automated traffic safety camera is 5
used on roadways or intersections must be clearly marked by placing 6
signs at least 30 days prior to activation of the camera in locations 7
that clearly indicate to a driver either that: (a) The driver is 8
within an area where automated traffic safety cameras are authorized; 9
or (b) the driver is entering an area where violations are enforced 10
by an automated traffic safety camera. The signs must be readily 11
visible to a driver approaching an automated traffic safety camera. 12
Signs placed in automated traffic safety camera locations after June 13
7, 2012, must follow the specifications and guidelines under the 14
manual of uniform traffic control devices for streets and highways as 15
adopted by the department of transportation under chapter 47.36 RCW. 16
All public transportation vehicles utilizing a vehicle-mounted system 17
must post a sign on the rear of the vehicle indicating to drivers 18
that the vehicle is equipped with an automated traffic safety camera 19
to enforce bus stop zone violations. 20
(8) Automated traffic safety cameras may only record images of 21
the vehicle and vehicle license plate and only while an infraction is 22
occurring. The image must not reveal the face of the driver or of 23
passengers in the vehicle. The primary purpose of camera placement is 24
to record images of the vehicle and vehicle license plate when an 25
infraction is occurring. Cities and counties must consider installing 26
automated traffic safety cameras in a manner that minimizes the 27
impact of camera flash on drivers. In addition, an automated vehicle 28
noise enforcement camera may only record audio of the vehicle 29
immediately before, during, and after a violation.30
(9) A notice of infraction must be mailed to the registered owner 31
of the vehicle within 14 days of the violation, or to the renter of a 32
vehicle within 14 days of establishing the renter's name and address 33
under subsection (17) of this section. The notice of infraction must 34
include with it a certificate or facsimile thereof, based upon 35
inspection of photographs, microphotographs, or electronic images 36
produced by an automated traffic safety camera, or, in the case of a 37
notice of infraction for a violation detected by an automated vehicle 38
noise enforcement camera, based upon inspection of photographs, 39
microphotographs, electronic images, video, and audio recording 40
p. 5 HB 1423
produced by an automated vehicle noise enforcement camera, stating 1
the facts supporting the notice of infraction. This certificate or 2
facsimile is prima facie evidence of the facts contained in it and is 3
admissible in a proceeding charging a violation under this chapter. 4
The photographs, microphotographs, ((or)) electronic images , video, 5
and audio recording evidencing the violation must be available for 6
inspection and admission into evidence in a proceeding to adjudicate 7
the liability for the infraction. A person receiving a notice of 8
infraction based on evidence detected by an automated traffic safety 9
camera may respond to the notice by mail. 10
(10) The registered owner of a vehicle is responsible for an 11
infraction under RCW 46.63.030(1)(d) unless the registered owner 12
overcomes the presumption in RCW 46.63.075, or, in the case of a 13
rental car business, satisfies the conditions under subsection (17) 14
of this section. If appropriate under the circumstances, a renter 15
identified under subsection (17)(a) of this section is responsible 16
for an infraction. 17
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all photographs, 18
microphotographs, ((or)) electronic images, or audio recordings, or 19
any other personally identifying data prepared under this section are 20
for the exclusive use of authorized city or county employees, as 21
specified in RCW 46.63.030(1)(d), in the discharge of duties under 22
this section and are not open to the public and may not be used in a 23
court in a pending action or proceeding unless the action or 24
proceeding relates to a violation under this section. No photograph, 25
microphotograph, ((or)) electronic image, or audio recording, or any 26
other personally identifying data may be used for any purpose other 27
than enforcement of violations under this section nor retained longer 28
than necessary to enforce this section. Transit authorities must 29
provide to the appropriate local jurisdiction that has authorized 30
traffic safety camera use under RCW 46.63.260(2) any images or 31
evidence collected establishing that a violation of stopping, 32
standing, or parking in a bus stop zone has occurred for infraction 33
processing purposes consistent with this section. 34
(12) If a county or city has established an automated traffic 35
safety camera program as authorized under this section, the 36
compensation paid to the manufacturer or vendor of the equipment used 37
must be based only upon the value of the equipment and services 38
provided or rendered in support of the system and may not be based 39
upon a portion of the fine or civil penalty imposed or the revenue 40
p. 6 HB 1423
generated by the equipment. If the contract between the city or 1
county and manufacturer or vendor of the equipment does not provide 2
for performance or quality control measures regarding camera images 3
or audio recordings , the city or county must perform a performance 4
audit of the manufacturer or vendor of the equipment every three 5
years to review and ensure that images and, where applicable, audio 6
recordings, produced from automated traffic safety cameras are 7
sufficient for evidentiary purposes as described in subsection (9) of 8
this section. 9
(13)(a) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, a county or 10
a city may only use revenue generated by an automated traffic safety 11
camera program as authorized under this section for:12
(i) Traffic safety activities related to construction and 13
preservation projects and maintenance and operations purposes 14
including, but not limited to, projects designed to implement the 15
complete streets approach as defined in RCW 47.04.010, changes in 16
physical infrastructure to reduce speeds through road design, and 17
changes to improve safety for active transportation users, including 18
improvements to access and safety for road users with mobility, 19
sight, or other disabilities; and 20
(ii) The cost to administer, install, operate, and maintain the 21
automated traffic safety cameras, including the cost of processing 22
infractions. 23
(b) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection:24
(i) The automated traffic safety camera program revenue used by a 25
county or city with a population of 10,000 or more for purposes 26
described in (a)(i) of this subsection must include the use of 27
revenue in census tracts of the city or county that have household 28
incomes in the lowest quartile determined by the most currently 29
available census data and areas that experience rates of injury 30
crashes that are above average for the city or county. Funding 31
contributed from traffic safety program revenue must be, at a 32
minimum, proportionate to the share of the population of the county 33
or city who are residents of these low-income communities and 34
communities experiencing high injury crash rates. This share must be 35
directed to investments that provide direct and meaningful traffic 36
safety benefits to these communities. Revenue used to administer, 37
install, operate, and maintain automated traffic safety cameras, 38
including the cost of processing infractions, are excluded from 39
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determination of the proportionate share of revenues under this 1
subsection (13)(b); and 2
(ii) The automated traffic safety camera program revenue used by 3
a city or county with a population under 10,000 for traffic safety 4
activities under (a)(i) of this subsection must be informed by the 5
department of health's environmental health disparities map.6
(c) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, beginning four 7
years after an automated traffic safety camera authorized under this 8
section is initially placed and in use after June 6, 2024, 25 percent 9
of the noninterest money received for infractions issued by such 10
cameras in excess of the cost to administer, install, operate, and 11
maintain the cameras, including the cost of processing infractions, 12
must be deposited into the Cooper Jones active transportation safety 13
account created in RCW 46.68.480. 14
(d)(i)(A) Jurisdictions with an automated traffic safety camera 15
program in effect before January 1, 2024, may continue to allocate 16
revenue generated from automated traffic safety cameras authorized 17
under RCW 46.63.230 and 46.63.250(2)(c) as determined by the 18
jurisdiction, as well as for the purposes established in (a) through 19
(c) of this subsection, by: 20
(I) Up to a 10 percent increase in the number of traffic safety 21
camera locations authorized to detect violations for automated 22
traffic safety cameras authorized under RCW 46.63.230; and23
(II) Up to a 10 percent increase in the number of traffic safety 24
camera locations authorized to detect violations for automated 25
traffic safety cameras authorized under RCW 46.63.250(2)(c).26
(B)(I) Any automated traffic safety camera program in effect 27
before January 1, 2024, with fewer than 10 traffic safety camera 28
locations for automated traffic safety cameras authorized under RCW 29
46.63.230, which adds automated traffic safety cameras to one 30
additional location for the use of cameras authorized under RCW 31
46.63.230, may continue to allocate revenue generated from automated 32
traffic safety cameras authorized under RCW 46.63.230 as determined 33
by the jurisdiction, as well as for the purposes established in (a) 34
through (c) of this subsection. 35
(II) Any automated traffic safety camera program in effect before 36
January 1, 2024, with fewer than 10 traffic safety camera locations 37
for automated traffic safety cameras authorized under RCW 38
46.63.250(2)(c) as of January 1, 2024, which adds automated traffic 39
safety cameras to one additional location for the use of cameras 40
p. 8 HB 1423
authorized under RCW 46.63.250(2)(c), may continue to allocate 1
revenue generated from automated traffic safety cameras authorized 2
under RCW 46.63.250(2)(c) as determined by the jurisdiction, as well 3
as for the purposes established in (a) through (c) of this 4
subsection. 5
(C) For the purposes of this subsection (13)(d)(i), a location 6
is: 7
(I) An intersection for automated traffic safety cameras 8
authorized under RCW 46.63.230 where cameras authorized under RCW 9
46.63.230 are in use; and 10
(II) A school speed zone for automated traffic safety cameras 11
authorized under RCW 46.63.250(2)(c) where cameras authorized under 12
RCW 46.63.250(2)(c) are in use. 13
(ii) The revenue distribution requirements under (a) through 14
(d)(i) of this subsection do not apply to automated traffic safety 15
camera programs in effect before January 1, 2024, for which an 16
ordinance in effect as of January 1, 2024, directs the manner in 17
which revenue generated from automated traffic safety cameras 18
authorized under RCW 46.63.230 or 46.63.250(2)(c) must be used.19
(14) A county or city may adopt the use of an online ability-to-20
pay calculator to process and grant requests for reduced fines or 21
reduced civil penalties for automated traffic safety camera 22
violations. 23
(15) Except as provided in this subsection, registered owners of 24
vehicles who receive notices of infraction for automated traffic 25
safety camera-enforced infractions and are recipients of public 26
assistance under Title 74 RCW or participants in the Washington 27
women, infants, and children program, and who request reduced 28
penalties for infractions detected through the use of automated 29
traffic safety camera violations, must be granted reduced penalty 30
amounts of 50 percent of what would otherwise be assessed for a first 31
automated traffic safety camera violation and for subsequent 32
automated traffic safety camera violations issued within 21 days of 33
issuance of the first automated traffic safety camera violation. 34
Eligibility for medicaid under RCW 74.09.510 is not a qualifying 35
criterion under this subsection. Registered owners of vehicles who 36
receive notices of infraction must be provided with information on 37
their eligibility and the opportunity to apply for a reduction in 38
penalty amounts through the mail or internet. 39
p. 9 HB 1423
(16) Infractions detected through the use of automated traffic 1
safety cameras are not part of the registered owner's driving record 2
under RCW 46.52.101 and 46.52.120. Additionally, infractions 3
generated by the use of automated traffic safety cameras under this 4
section must be processed in the same manner as parking infractions, 5
including for the purposes of RCW 3.50.100, 35.20.220, 46.16A.120, 6
and 46.20.270(2). The amount of the fine issued for an infraction 7
generated through the use of an automated traffic safety camera may 8
not exceed $145, as adjusted for inflation by the office of financial 9
management every five years, beginning January 1, 2029, based upon 10
changes in the consumer price index during that time period, but may 11
be doubled for a school speed zone infraction generated through the 12
use of an automated traffic safety camera. 13
(17) If the registered owner of the vehicle is a rental car 14
business, the issuing agency must, before a notice of infraction 15
being issued under this section, provide a written notice to the 16
rental car business that a notice of infraction may be issued to the 17
rental car business if the rental car business does not, within 18 18
days of receiving the written notice, provide to the issuing agency 19
by return mail: 20
(a) A statement under oath stating the name and known mailing 21
address of the individual driving or renting the vehicle when the 22
infraction occurred; or 23
(b) A statement under oath that the business is unable to 24
determine who was driving or renting the vehicle at the time the 25
infraction occurred because the vehicle was stolen at the time of the 26
infraction. A statement provided under this subsection must be 27
accompanied by a copy of a filed police report regarding the vehicle 28
theft; or 29
(c) In lieu of identifying the vehicle operator, the rental car 30
business may pay the applicable penalty. Timely mailing of this 31
statement to the issuing agency relieves a rental car business of any 32
liability under this chapter for the notice of infraction.33
Sec. 4. RCW 46.16A.120 and 2024 c 308 s 1 and 2024 c 307 s 7 are 34
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 35
(1) Each court and government agency located in this state having 36
jurisdiction over standing, stopping, and parking violations, the use 37
of a photo toll system under RCW 46.63.160, the use of automated 38
traffic safety cameras under RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260 and 39
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section 2 of this act , the use of automated school bus safety cameras 1
under RCW 46.63.180, and the use of speed safety camera systems under 2
RCW 46.63.200 may forward to the department any outstanding:3
(a) Standing, stopping, and parking violations;4
(b) Civil penalties for toll nonpayment detected through the use 5
of photo toll systems issued under RCW 46.63.160; 6
(c) Automated traffic safety camera infractions issued under RCW 7
46.63.030(1)(d); 8
(d) Automated school bus safety camera infractions issued under 9
RCW 46.63.030(1)(e); and 10
(e) Speed safety camera system infractions issued under RCW 11
46.63.030(1)(f). 12
(2) Violations, civil penalties, and infractions described in 13
subsection (1) of this section must be reported to the department in 14
the manner described in RCW 46.20.270(3). 15
(3) The department shall: 16
(a) Record the violations, civil penalties, and infractions on 17
the matching vehicle records; and 18
(b) Send notice approximately 120 days in advance of the current 19
vehicle registration expiration date to the registered owner listing 20
the dates and jurisdictions in which the violations, civil penalties, 21
and infractions occurred, the amounts of unpaid fines and penalties, 22
and the surcharge to be collected. Only those violations, civil 23
penalties, and infractions received by the department 120 days or 24
more before the current vehicle registration expiration date will be 25
included in the notice. Violations, civil penalties, and infractions 26
received by the department later than 120 days before the current 27
vehicle registration expiration date that are not satisfied will be 28
delayed until the next vehicle registration expiration date.29
(4) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent 30
appointed by the director shall not renew a vehicle registration if 31
there are any outstanding standing, stopping, and parking violations, 32
and other civil penalties issued under RCW 46.63.160 for the vehicle 33
unless: 34
(a) The outstanding standing, stopping, or parking violations and 35
civil penalties were received by the department within 120 days 36
before the current vehicle registration expiration;37
(b) There is a change in registered ownership; or38
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(c) The registered owner presents proof of payment of each 1
violation, civil penalty, and infraction provided in this section and 2
the registered owner pays the surcharge required under RCW 46.17.030.3
(5) The department shall: 4
(a) Forward a change in registered ownership information to the 5
court or government agency who reported the outstanding violations, 6
civil penalties, or infractions; and 7
(b) Remove the outstanding violations, civil penalties, and 8
infractions from the vehicle record. 9
Sec. 5. RCW 46.63.030 and 2024 c 307 s 8 are each amended to 10
read as follows: 11
(1) A law enforcement officer has the authority to issue a notice 12
of traffic infraction: 13
(a) When the infraction is committed in the officer's presence, 14
except as provided in RCW 46.09.485; 15
(b) When the officer is acting upon the request of a law 16
enforcement officer in whose presence the traffic infraction was 17
committed; 18
(c) If an officer investigating at the scene of a motor vehicle 19
accident has reasonable cause to believe that the driver of a motor 20
vehicle involved in the accident has committed a traffic infraction;21
(d) When the infraction is detected through the use of an 22
automated traffic safety camera under RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260 23
or section 2 of this act . A trained and authorized civilian employee 24
of a general authority Washington law enforcement agency, as defined 25
in RCW 10.93.020, or an employee of a local public works or 26
transportation department performing under the supervision of a 27
qualified traffic engineer and as designated by a city or county, has 28
the authority to review infractions detected through the use of an 29
automated traffic safety camera under RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260 30
and section 2 of this act and to issue notices of infraction 31
consistent with RCW 46.63.220(9). These employees must be 32
sufficiently trained and certified in reviewing infractions and 33
issuing notices of infraction by qualified peace officers or by 34
traffic engineers employed in the jurisdiction's public works or 35
transportation department. Nothing in this subsection impairs 36
decision and effects collective bargaining rights under chapter 41.56 37
RCW; 38
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(e) When the infraction is detected through the use of an 1
automated school bus safety camera under RCW 46.63.180. A trained and 2
authorized civilian employee of a general authority Washington law 3
enforcement agency, as defined in RCW 10.93.020, or an employee of a 4
local public works or transportation department performing under the 5
supervision of a qualified traffic engineer and as designated by a 6
city or county, has the authority to review infractions detected 7
through the use of an automated school bus safety camera under RCW 8
46.63.180 and to issue notices of infraction consistent with RCW 9
46.63.180(1)(b). These employees must be sufficiently trained and 10
certified in reviewing infractions and issuing notices of infraction 11
by qualified peace officers or by traffic engineers employed in the 12
jurisdiction's public works or transportation department. Nothing in 13
this subsection impairs decision and effects collective bargaining 14
rights under chapter 41.56 RCW; or 15
(f) When the infraction is detected through the use of a speed 16
safety camera system under RCW 46.63.200. 17
(2) A court may issue a notice of traffic infraction upon receipt 18
of a written statement of the officer that there is reasonable cause 19
to believe that an infraction was committed. 20
(3) If any motor vehicle without a driver is found parked, 21
standing, or stopped in violation of this title or an equivalent 22
administrative regulation or local law, ordinance, regulation, or 23
resolution, the officer finding the vehicle shall take its 24
registration number and may take any other information displayed on 25
the vehicle which may identify its user, and shall conspicuously 26
affix to the vehicle a notice of traffic infraction.27
(4) In the case of failure to redeem an abandoned vehicle under 28
RCW 46.55.120, upon receiving a complaint by a registered tow truck 29
operator that has incurred costs in removing, storing, and disposing 30
of an abandoned vehicle, an officer of the law enforcement agency 31
responsible for directing the removal of the vehicle shall send a 32
notice of infraction by certified mail to the last known address of 33
the person responsible under RCW 46.55.105. The notice must be 34
entitled "Littering — Abandoned Vehicle" and give notice of the 35
monetary penalty. The officer shall append to the notice of 36
infraction, on a form prescribed by the department of licensing, a 37
notice indicating the amount of costs incurred as a result of 38
removing, storing, and disposing of the abandoned vehicle, less any 39
amount realized at auction, and a statement that monetary penalties 40
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for the infraction will not be considered as having been paid until 1
the monetary penalty payable under this chapter has been paid and the 2
court is satisfied that the person has made restitution in the amount 3
of the deficiency remaining after disposal of the vehicle.4
Sec. 6. RCW 46.63.075 and 2024 c 307 s 10 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) In a traffic infraction case involving an infraction detected 7
through the use of an automated traffic safety camera under RCW 8
46.63.220 through 46.63.260 or section 2 of this act , detected 9
through the use of a speed safety camera system under RCW 46.63.200, 10
or detected through the use of an automated school bus safety camera 11
under RCW 46.63.180, proof that the particular vehicle described in 12
the notice of traffic infraction was in violation of any such 13
provision of RCW 46.63.220 through 46.63.260 ((or RCW)), section 2 of 14
this act, 46.63.200 ((and)), or 46.63.180, together with proof that 15
the person named in the notice of traffic infraction was at the time 16
of the violation the registered owner of the vehicle, constitutes in 17
evidence a prima facie presumption that the registered owner of the 18
vehicle was the person in control of the vehicle at the point where, 19
and for the time during which, the violation occurred.20
(2) This presumption may be overcome only if the registered owner 21
states, under oath, in a written statement to the court or in 22
testimony before the court that the vehicle involved was, at the 23
time, stolen or in the care, custody, or control of some person other 24
than the registered owner. 25
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This act takes effect January 1, 2026.26
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p. 14 HB 1423