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SB5081 • 2026

Unattended motor vehicles

Revising the provisions around unattended motor vehicles.

Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Fortunato, Senator Christian, Senator McCune, Senator J. Wilson
Last action
2026-03-12
Official status
S Rules 3
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Unattended motor vehicles

Unattended motor vehicles

What This Bill Does

  • Unattended motor vehicles

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

5081 AMS LIIA S1329.1

25 • Liias

ADOPTED

Plain English: 5081 AMS LIIA S1329.1 SB 5081 - S AMD 25 By Senator Liias ADOPTED 02/12/2025 On page 1, line 14, after " vehicle." strike all material through 1 "vehicle." on line 17 2 Correct any internal references accordingly.

  • 5081 AMS LIIA S1329.1 SB 5081 - S AMD 25 By Senator Liias ADOPTED 02/12/2025 On page 1, line 14, after " vehicle." strike all material through 1 "vehicle." on line 17 2 Correct any internal references accordingly.
  • 3 EFFECT: Removes the exemption for unattended motor vehicles located on the driver's property or the property of the person in charge of the vehicle.
  • END --- Code Rev/AI:jlb 1 S-1329.1/25

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 Senate

    By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.

Official Summary Text

Unattended motor vehicles

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to revising the provisions around unattended 1
motor vehicles; and amending RCW 46.61.600. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.600 and 2010 c 8 s 9072 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1)(a) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall 6
permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, 7
locking the ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the 8
brake thereon and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning 9
the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.10
(b) For purposes of this subsection, a motor vehicle with an 11
engine that has been activated by a remote starter system is not 12
considered unattended when the motor vehicle is locked, and the 13
ignition keys are not in the motor vehicle.14
(c) (a) of this subsection does not apply to an unattended motor 15
vehicle located on property owned by the person driving or in charge 16
of the motor vehicle.17
(2) The most recent driver of a motor vehicle ((which)) that the 18
driver has left standing unattended or has left standing after 19
starting the engine by a remote starter system , who learns that the 20
vehicle has become set in motion and has struck another vehicle or 21
S-0388.1
SENATE BILL 5081
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Fortunato, Christian, McCune, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 12/19/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5081
property, or has caused injury to any person, shall comply with the 1
requirements of: 2
(a) RCW 46.52.010 if his or her vehicle strikes an unattended 3
vehicle or property adjacent to a public highway; or4
(b) RCW 46.52.020 if his or her vehicle causes damage to an 5
attended vehicle or other property or injury to any person.6
(3) Any person failing to comply with subsection (2)(b) of this 7
section ((shall be )) is subject to the sanctions set forth in RCW 8
46.52.020. 9
(4) For purposes of this section, "remote starter system" means 10
any device installed in a motor vehicle that allows the engine of 11
such vehicle to be started by remote or radio control.12
--- END ---
p. 2 SB 5081