Washington Driving Record
You must have a valid driver license to legally operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, moped, or motor-driven cycle on public roadways in Washington State.
Washington Driver License
If you operate a motor vehicle registered in this state, you must have liability insurance and carry an identification card proving you have such insurance. Drivers of government vehicles, motorcycles, and common or contract carrier vehicles are exempt from this insurance requirement.
Washington Seat Belt Law
In Washington State it is illegal to drive or to be a passenger without wearing seat belts. Always fasten your seat belt and make sure all passengers are properly using seat belts, child car seats, or booster seats. Also remember to lock the vehicles doors.
You may have to pay a fine if you or your passengers under 16 are not wearing a seat belt or are not secured in a child car seat or booster seat. Passengers over 16 are responsible for wearing their belt and any fine.
The law also requires that:
- Any vehicle manufactured after January 1964 and registered in Washington State must have front laptype seat belts.
- Passenger vehicles manufactured after January 1968 and trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles manufactured after January 1972 must have lap and shoulder belts or a lap belt at all seating positions.
- Vans, motor homes, and vehicles carrying chassis mounted campers manufactured after January 1976 must have seat belts at all seating positions.
If your vehicle has a two-part seat belt system, be sure to wear and properly adjust them both, with the shoulder belt over your shoulder and not under your arm or behind your back. The lap belt should be across the hips, not the abdomen. Wearing either part alone greatly reduces your protection. If you have an automatic shoulder belt, be sure to buckle your lap belt as well. Otherwise, in a collision you could slide out of the belt and be hurt or killed.
In addition to protecting you from injury as a driver, seatbelts help you keep control of the vehicle. If you are struck from the side or make a quick turn, the force could push you sideways. You cannot steer the vehicle if you are not behind the wheel.
Washington Drinking Alcohol and Driving
If you are arrested for drinking and driving, the penalties are severe. You can be arrested for driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or more. In Washington, if you are under 21, you also can be arrested for a BAC of .02 or more. BAC is the percentage of alcohol in your blood and is usually determined by a breath, blood, or urine test. You can also be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) with BAC levels lower than these if you are driving and impaired due to alcohol or drugs.
The Implied Consent Law means that when you operate a motor vehicle, you have agreed to take a breath or blood test to determine the alcohol or drug content of your blood. If a police or traffic officer asks you to take a BAC test, you must do so. You will lose your driver license for at least one year if you refuse to take a BAC test.
Additional Washington Resources
Washington County Coverage
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