Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 46.16A - Registration.
46.16A.180 - Registration certificates—Formats—Requirements—Penalty—Exception—Manual removal of registrant's address.

RCW 46.16A.180
Registration certificates—Formats—Requirements—Penalty—Exception—Manual removal of registrant's address.

(1) A registration certificate must be:
(a) Signed by the registered owner, or if a firm or corporation, the signature of one of its officers or other authorized agent, to be valid;
(b) Carried in the vehicle for which it is issued; and
(c) Provided to law enforcement and the department by the operator of the vehicle upon demand.
(d) The registration certificate required by this section may be provided in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include the display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
(2) It is unlawful for any person to operate or be in possession of a vehicle without carrying a registration certificate for the vehicle. Any person in charge of a vehicle shall, upon demand of any of the local authorities or of any police officer or of any representative of the department, permit an inspection of the vehicle registration certificate. This section does not apply to a vehicle for which registration is not required to be renewed annually and is a publicly owned vehicle marked as required under RCW 46.08.065.
(3) Beginning January 1, 2023, paper issued registrations [registration] certificates for vehicles or trailers must be printed to allow for the manual removal of a registrant's address, by the named registered owner, without compromising any required information on the certificate.

[ 2022 c 36 § 2; 2013 c 157 § 3; 2010 c 161 § 432; 2010 c 8 § 9014; 1986 c 18 § 16; 1979 ex.s. c 113 § 3; 1969 ex.s. c 170 § 11; 1967 c 32 § 19; 1961 c 12 § 46.16.260. Prior: 1955 c 384 § 18; 1937 c 188 § 8; RRS § 6312-8. Formerly RCW 46.16.260.]
NOTES:

Finding—2022 c 36: "(1) The legislature finds that printing addresses on vehicle registrations provides an opportunity for thieves that break into vehicles to use the information for nefarious purposes that can be avoided if the address is not printed on the vehicle registration certificate.
(2) Furthermore, law enforcement agencies have access to databases that include the vehicle registrant's address so such information does not need to be printed on paper vehicle registration certificates.
(3) In order to reduce criminal opportunities, the legislature directs the department of licensing to print addresses on vehicle, trailer, and vessel registration certificates in a location that facilitates the removal of the address." [ 2022 c 36 § 1.]


Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.

Structure Revised Code of Washington

Revised Code of Washington

Title 46 - Motor Vehicles

Chapter 46.16A - Registration.

46.16A.010 - Definitions.

46.16A.020 - Registration year assigned—Registration month—Registration period—When registration does not expire.

46.16A.025 - Adjustment of vehicle registration periods to stagger renewal periods.

46.16A.030 - Registration and display of plates required—Penalties—Expired registration, impoundment.

46.16A.040 - Original registration—Application—Form and contents.

46.16A.050 - Registration—Requirements before issuance—Penalty—Rules.

46.16A.060 - Registration—Emission control inspections required—Exemptions—Educational information—Rules.

46.16A.070 - Registration—Cancellation, refusal, etc.—Appeals.

46.16A.080 - Registration—Exemptions.

46.16A.090 - Registration—Voluntary and opt-out donations—Discover pass.

46.16A.100 - Registration—Federal heavy vehicle use tax.

46.16A.110 - Registration renewal—Exemptions.

46.16A.120 - Forwarding and payment of standing, stopping, and parking violations and other infractions required before registration renewal.

46.16A.130 - Notice of liability insurance requirement.

46.16A.140 - "Resident" defined—Natural person residency requirements—Vehicle registration required.

46.16A.150 - Purchasing a vehicle with foreign plates.

46.16A.160 - Nonresident exemption—Reciprocity—Rules.

46.16A.170 - Exemptions from vehicle license fees—State and publicly owned vehicles.

46.16A.175 - Exemptions from vehicle license fees—Vehicles owned by Indian tribes—Conditions.

46.16A.180 - Registration certificates—Formats—Requirements—Penalty—Exception—Manual removal of registrant's address.

46.16A.185 - Requirement for commercial motor vehicle registration certificate.

46.16A.190 - Replacement registration certificates.

46.16A.200 - License plates.

46.16A.210 - Emblems—Material, display requirements.

46.16A.215 - Military emblems—Fees.

46.16A.220 - Rules.

46.16A.230 - Tribal license plates and vehicle registration—Compacts.

46.16A.300 - Temporary permits—Authority—Dealer fees—Secure system.

46.16A.305 - Temporary permits—Application form and contents—Display and duration—Application fee.

46.16A.320 - Vehicle trip permits—Restrictions and requirements—Fee—Penalty—Rules.

46.16A.330 - Farm vehicle trip permits—Restrictions and requirements—Fee—Rules.

46.16A.340 - Temporary permits for nonresident members of armed forces—Fee—Rules.

46.16A.350 - Temporary letter of authority for movement of unregistered vehicle for special community activity.

46.16A.360 - Thirty, sixty, or ninety-day permits for registered out-of-state commercial vehicles.

46.16A.405 - Campers, mopeds, and wheelchair conveyances.

46.16A.410 - Commercial motor vehicles.

46.16A.420 - Farm vehicles—Farm exempt decal—Fee—Rules.

46.16A.425 - Farm vehicles based on gross weight—Farm tabs—Penalty.

46.16A.428 - Intermittent-use trailers—Permanent registration—Penalty—License plates—Definition—Rules.

46.16A.435 - Off-road motorcycles—Declaration required—Contents.

46.16A.440 - Private use, single-axle trailers—Reduced license fee.

46.16A.445 - Street rod or custom vehicles.

46.16A.450 - Trailers—Permanent license plates and registration—Penalty—Rules.

46.16A.455 - Trucks, buses, and for hire vehicles based on gross weight.

46.16A.460 - Motorcycles and snow bikes—Concurrent, separate registrations—Declaration required—Department may adopt rules.

46.16A.500 - Liability of operator, owner, lessee for violations.

46.16A.510 - Immunity from liability for issuing a vehicle registration or license plates to nonroadworthy vehicle.

46.16A.520 - Allowing unauthorized person to drive—Penalty.

46.16A.530 - Unlawful to carry passengers for hire without vehicle registration.

46.16A.540 - Overloading registered capacity—Additional registration—Penalties—Exceptions.

46.16A.545 - Overloading registered capacity—Penalties.