25 Washington state traffic laws you might not know

Navigating Washington's roadways involves understanding lesser-known traffic laws that may surprise drivers. For example, there's a rule prohibiting stopping in an intersection while awaiting a left turn, and a law against decorating vehicles with Christmas lights. There are also right-turn-on-red rules, laws about lane changes in intersections, and regulations about the use of bike lanes. Meanwhile, laws about using car horns or wearing headphones while driving aim to keep drivers free of distractions.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

NO. 1: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SOMEONE IS TAILGATING MY CAR? IS IT LEGAL? HERE’S THE WASHINGTON LAW

The state recommends a standard four-second following distance. Here’s what you should do if someone follows you too closely. | Published February 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Is anything being done about cars and trucks with tires that stick out past their fenders? Is it legal? Here’s one Washington Traffic Safety Commission Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl found this one while driving around Bellingham. By Doug Dahl / Washington Traffic Safety Commission

NO. 2: RULES OF THE ROAD: ODDLY ENOUGH, IT’S LEGAL TO INSTALL ILLEGAL TIRES ON YOUR VEHICLE

Driving around town? Well, that’s a different story. | Published April 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl

Headlight car at dusk By Jose Gonzalez Buenaposada/iStockphoto

NO. 3: YOU SHOULDN’T DRIVE IN REVERSE DOWN A MAIN ROAD. BUT IS IT ACTUALLY ILLEGAL IN WASHINGTON?

Ever wondered how far you could go in reverse without crashing? Would you get pulled over if you tried? Here’s what Washington law says. | Published April 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

NO. 4: RULES OF THE ROAD: ASSUMING YOU HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS THE BEST PATH TO A BAD DAY

Intersections are tricky. At least, that’s what the data would suggest. | Published May 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

CHP officer Mike Maher blows into a breathalyzer during a DUI investigation simulation during a media boot camp at the CHP academy in West Sacramento, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019. By Daniel Kim

NO. 5: RULES OF THE ROAD: WHAT DOES WASHINGTON STATE LAW SAY ABOUT DRINKING IN A PARKED CAR?

Washington’s open-container law is actually pretty broad. | Published May 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Work on the new Canyon Road construction project south of Puyallup, Washington, on Thursday, May 16, 2024. By Tony Overman

NO. 6: DO I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN IN WA CONSTRUCTION ZONES WITHOUT WORKERS? CAN I STILL GET A TICKET?

When there are no workers in a construction zone, there is some confusion whether posted rules must still be followed. | Published June 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Orange test stripes have been added to the traffic lanes through the construction site along Interstate 5 through Fife, Washington, shown on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The pilot project is designed to see if the colored stripes will improve freeway driver and construction worker safety. By Tony Overman

NO. 7: CAN YOU LEGALLY BRAKE CHECK A DRIVER FOR AGGRESSIVE TAILGATING? HERE’S WHAT WA LAW SAYS

When another car follows at an unsafe distance to force you to speed up, what should you do? | Published June 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rosemary Montalvo

A stock photo of a party bus By TriggerPhoto

NO. 8: CAN I DRINK IN THE CAR IF I’M A PASSENGER? WILL WE GET PULLED OVER? HERE’S THE LAW IN WA

Summer is especially dangerous on Washington’s roads, prompting increased patrols from June to August. | Published July 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Close-up shot of woman sitting in driver’s seat in her car with earbuds in. By freemixer

NO. 9: CAN I WEAR HEADPHONES WHILE DRIVING IN WASHINGTON? WHAT ABOUT AIRPODS? HERE’S THE LAW

Bluetooth listening devices are as popular as ever. But are you allowed to drive with them? | Published July 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Nielsen Audio ranks Boise as the 96th largest radio market in the United States with a population of 562,800. By Ahmet Yarali

NO. 10: CAN YOU GET A TICKET FOR PLAYING MUSIC TOO LOUDLY IN YOUR CAR? HERE’S WHAT WA LAW SAYS

While it depends on the city, you can get pulled over and even get a ticket in Washington state for blasting music from your car. | Published July 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

Cars begin to form a line as drivers wait to turn right onto Center Street from Orchard Street in Tacoma, Wash., on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. By Joshua Bessex

NO. 11: IF THERE’S NO SIGN, CAN YOU MAKE A U-TURN ON WASHINGTON ROADWAYS? HERE’S WHAT THE LAW SAYS

‘No U-turn’ signs can be seen at some intersections on Washington’s streets. | Published August 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Vehicles turn left at the intersection of Cornwall Avenue and Alabama Street. Washington state laws may not prohibit changing lanes in an intersection, but police highly recommend against it for safety. By Staff

NO. 12: CAN YOU GET PULLED OVER FOR CHANGING LANES IN AN INTERSECTION IN WA STATE? HERE’S THE LAW

Switching lanes in the middle of an intersection might feel illegal. But is it? Here’s what state law, Washington State Patrol have to say. | Published August 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

As of December, there were 1,037,969 Washingtonians age 65-plus with active driver’s licenses. Their ranks increased by more than 46,000 over the course of last year, passing the 1 million mark in the process. By Ryan McVay

NO. 13: DOES WA HAVE AN AGE LIMIT OR RESTRICTIONS FOR SENIORS TO HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE? WHAT DOL SAYS

While there’s no age cap, Washington has a few extra rules for drivers over 70 years old, and a new law might mean changes are coming soon. | Published August 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Daniel Schrager

Not all states charge property taxes for owning vehicles like Missouri and Kansas do. The two states have some of the highest rates in the country. By northlightimages

NO. 14: RULES OF THE ROAD: IT’S JUST A PARKING LOT. DO I REALLY NEED TO USE MY TURN SIGNALS?

It may be a courtesy, but is it required by law in Washington? | Published September 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Joe Lingebloom walks across the crosswalk at St. Paul Street and Alabama Street, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014 in Bellingham.

NO. 15: RULES OF THE ROAD: HOW LONG AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS THE STREET?

Do you let the pedestrian get all the way across? Is enough if they are now in the other lane of the street? | Published September 30, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Traffic light device before blue sky. By artpartner-images

NO. 16: RULES OF THE ROAD: DO RIGHT-TURN-ON-RED RULES APPLY TO ALL LANES, OR JUST THE INSIDE?

The Revised Code of Washington has the evidence you’re looking for? | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

It’s difficult to be patient when someone’s on your bumper, but don’t let that driver rush you into the other lane, cutting off another driver.

NO. 17: SICK OF BEING FOLLOWED TOO CLOSE? HERE’S HOW WA LAW RECOMMENDS YOU REACT TO TAILGATERS

The state of Washington recommends a standard four-second following distance. | Published October 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Karlee Van De Venter

Crews began installing bike lanes on Holly Street between Ellis and Prospect on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in downtown Bellingham, Wash. The install is part of a trial project designed to make travel in the area safer for people walking and cycling.

NO. 18: RULES OF THE ROAD: DRIVERS DON’T BELONG IN BIKE LANES, BUT CAN ANYONE ELSE USE THEM?

You’d think there would be a law in the traffic code that says, “Don’t drive in the bike lanes.” | Published October 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl, Washington Traffic Safety Commission

Washington State Patrol Trooper Chris Thorson has a tongue-in-cheek solution for you to avoid turn-signal tickets he posted on Twitter Thursday. By Roberto Koltun

NO. 19: IS IT LEGAL TO PULL INTO AN INTERSECTION WHILE WAITING TO TURN LEFT IN WASHINGTON STATE?

The DOL says that a driver shouldn’t enter an intersection unless they can get through without stopping. Drivers can be fined $136. | Published November 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by rmontalvo@thenewstribune.comRosemary Montalvo

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NO. 20: NOTICE SOME TACOMA INTERSECTIONS LACK STOP SIGNS? DON’T WORRY, DRIVERS: THAT’S BY DESIGN

T-Town isn’t the only city that has “uncontrolled” intersections. | Published November 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by scarter@thenewstribune.comSimone Carter

NO. 21: RULES OF THE ROAD: TURNING LEFT VERSUS RIGHT ONTO SAME STREET, WHO HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY?

Here’s what Washington traffic law has to say. | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl

A police car stopping a vehicle at night.

NO. 22: RULES OF THE ROAD: LEGAL LIMITS ASIDE, HERE’S THE REAL TEST FOR DETERMINING IMPAIRED DRIVING

Does law enforcement have a standard test for drug impairment? | Published December 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl

NO. 23: RULES OF THE ROAD: RED-LIGHT RUNNERS VS. GREEN-LIGHT WAITERS AND DRIVING WITH ‘DUE CARE’

Once stopped at a red light, drivers are to remain until “an indication to proceed is shown.” | Published December 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl

A vehicle was stopped by Washington State Patrol in Grays Harbor for having Christmas lights attached to its exterior.

NO. 24: IS IT LEGAL TO DECORATE YOUR VEHICLE WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN WA? HERE’S WHAT THE LAW SAYS

People decorate their cars and trucks during certain holidays, but adding Christmas lights to your vehicle may result in a fine. | Published December 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rosemary Montalvo

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car Sunday in Spanaway after stepping out in front of a car on state Route 7, according to the Washington State Patrol.

NO. 25: RULES OF THE ROAD: NEW WASHINGTON STATE LAW INCREASES PENALTIES FOR PEDESTRIAN DEATHS

In 2023, 177 pedestrians and cyclists were killed in traffic crashes in Washington. | Published December 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Doug Dahl

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.