Interference with emergency

AN ACT Relating to creating the offense of reckless interference 1
with emergency operations; adding a new section to chapter 46.61 RCW; 2
and prescribing penalties. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.61 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) A person is guilty of reckless interference with emergency 7
operations if the person operates a vehicle on a public roadway with 8
knowledge that the public roadway has been closed due to hazardous 9
conditions by an official barricade, signage, or emergency vehicle.10
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a person who 11
recklessly interferes with emergency operations is guilty of a gross 12
misdemeanor. 13
(b) A person who recklessly interferes with emergency operations 14
is guilty of a class C felony if any of the following apply: 15
(i) If, as a result of the violation, the person requires 16
emergency assistance, rescue, or evacuation by a public agency and 17
the resulting operation causes bodily injury to a first responder; or18
(ii) If the violation occurs while a minor under the age of 16 or 19
a vulnerable adult is present in the vehicle. 20
H-2668.1
HOUSE BILL 2203
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Penner, Graham, and Couture
Prefiled 12/29/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Community Safety.
p. 1 HB 2203
(3) The department of licensing shall suspend the driver's 1
license, permit to drive, or nonresident driving privilege of a 2
person convicted of reckless interference with emergency operations 3
for the following duration: 4
(a) Sixty days when the person is sentenced pursuant to 5
subsection (2)(a) of this section; or 6
(b) Ninety days when the person is sentenced pursuant to 7
subsection (2)(b) of this section. 8
(4)(a) A person who has been found guilty of or has had the 9
person's prosecution deferred for reckless interference with 10
emergency operations is liable for the expense of an emergency 11
response by a public agency to the incident if an emergency response 12
is required. 13
(b) The expense of an emergency response is a charge against the 14
person liable for expenses under this section. The charge constitutes 15
a debt of that person and is collectible by the public agency 16
incurring those costs in the same manner as in the case of an 17
obligation under a contract, expressed or implied. Following a 18
conviction of an offense listed in this section, and prior to 19
sentencing, the prosecution may present to the court information 20
setting forth the expenses incurred by the public agency for its 21
emergency response to the incident. Upon a finding by the court that 22
the expenses are reasonable, the court shall order the defendant to 23
reimburse the public agency. The cost reimbursement shall be included 24
in the sentencing order as an additional monetary obligation of the 25
defendant and may not be substituted for any other fine or cost 26
required or allowed by statute. The court may establish a payment 27
schedule for the payment of the cost reimbursement, separate from any 28
payment schedule imposed for other fines and costs. All payments for 29
the cost reimbursement must be remitted directly to the public agency 30
or agencies that incurred the cost associated with the emergency 31
response. 32
(c) In no event shall a person's liability under this section for 33
the expense of an emergency response exceed $25,000 for a particular 34
incident. 35
(d) If more than one public agency makes a claim for payment from 36
an individual for an emergency response to a single incident under 37
the provisions of this section, and the sum of the claims exceeds the 38
amount recovered, the division of the amount recovered shall be 39
p. 2 HB 2203
determined by an interlocal agreement consistent with the 1
requirements of chapter 39.34 RCW. 2
(5) For the purposes of this section: 3
(a) "First responder" means (i) "first responder" as defined in 4
RCW 5.60.060, however "first responder" does not include an emergency 5
services dispatcher or recordkeeper or coroner or medical examiner, 6
or a coroner's or medical examiner's agent or employee; (ii) "reserve 7
officer" as defined in RCW 10.93.020; (iii) "specially commissioned 8
Washington peace officer" as defined in RCW 10.93.020; (iv) 9
"volunteer firefighter" as defined in RCW 49.12.460; and (v) "covered 10
volunteer emergency worker" as defined in RCW 38.52.180;11
(b) "Vehicle" has the same meaning as in RCW 46.04.670; and12
(c) "Vulnerable adult" has the same meaning as in RCW 74.34.020.13
(6) Any act prohibited by this section that also constitutes a 14
crime under any other law of this state may be the basis of 15
prosecution under such other law notwithstanding that it may also be 16
the basis for prosecution under this section. 17
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p. 3 HB 2203