Pets in unattended vehicles

AN ACT Relating to allowing pets in unattended motor vehicles 1
under certain circumstances; and amending RCW 46.61.600 and 2
16.52.340. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 46.61.600 and 2010 c 8 s 9072 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) ((No)) (a) Except as provided under (b) of this subsection, 7
no person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to 8
stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the 9
ignition, removing the key and effectively setting the brake thereon 10
and, when standing upon any perceptible grade, turning the front 11
wheels to the curb or side of the highway. 12
(b) A person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle may permit 13
it to stand unattended with the engine running, doors locked, brake 14
effectively set, and when standing upon any perceptible grade, front 15
wheels turned to the curb or side of the highway, for no longer than 16
30 minutes, if reasonably necessary for the purpose of employing the 17
vehicle's air conditioning equipment or heating system to limit 18
exposure to excessive heat or cold for any pet present in the 19
vehicle. For purposes of this subsection, "pet" means a dog, cat, or 20
any animal that has been domesticated, except livestock.21
S-3512.1
SENATE BILL 5833
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senator Wagoner
Prefiled 01/05/26.
p. 1 SB 5833
(2) The most recent driver of a motor vehicle which the driver 1
has left standing unattended, who learns that the vehicle has become 2
set in motion and has struck another vehicle or property, or has 3
caused injury to any person, shall comply with the requirements of:4
(a) RCW 46.52.010 if his or her vehicle strikes an unattended 5
vehicle or property adjacent to a public highway; or6
(b) RCW 46.52.020 if his or her vehicle causes damage to an 7
attended vehicle or other property or injury to any person.8
(3) Any person failing to comply with subsection (2)(b) of this 9
section shall be subject to the sanctions set forth in RCW 46.52.020.10
Sec. 2. RCW 16.52.340 and 2015 c 235 s 1 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
(1) It is a class 2 civil infraction under RCW 7.80.120 to leave 13
or confine any animal unattended in a motor vehicle or enclosed space 14
if the animal could be harmed or killed by exposure to excessive 15
heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary water. There is 16
a presumption that a person who complies with RCW 46.61.600(1)(b) has 17
not committed an infraction under this subsection.18
(2) To protect the health and safety of an animal, an animal 19
control officer or law enforcement officer who reasonably believes 20
that an animal is suffering or is likely to suffer harm from exposure 21
to excessive heat, cold, lack of ventilation, or lack of necessary 22
water is authorized to enter a vehicle or enclosed space to remove an 23
animal by any means reasonable under the circumstances if no other 24
person is present in the immediate area who has access to the vehicle 25
or enclosed space and who will immediately remove the animal. An 26
animal control officer, law enforcement officer, or the department or 27
agency employing such an officer is not liable for any damage to 28
property resulting from actions taken under this section. However, 29
such an officer or the department or agency employing such officer is 30
liable for any damage to property resulting from actions taken under 31
this section when the person who left or confined the animal complied 32
with RCW 46.61.600(1)(b), unless the officer or the department or 33
agency employing such officer rebuts the presumption that the person 34
did not commit an infraction under subsection (1) of this section.35
(3) Nothing in this section prevents the person who has confined 36
the animal in the vehicle or enclosed space as prohibited under this 37
p. 2 SB 5833
section from being convicted of separate offenses for animal cruelty 1
under RCW 16.52.205 or 16.52.207. 2
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p. 3 SB 5833