Washington criminal charge
Violations in Washington
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
Violations is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 46.20.0921. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 46.20.0921.
What is the penalty for violations in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Misdemeanor license misuse — Applies to displaying/possessing fictitious licenses, lending licenses, misrepresenting ownership, failing to surrender suspended/revoked licenses, fraudulent application statements, or permitting unlawful use of one's license/identicard.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(3)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.030 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Misdemeanor license misuse — Applies to displaying/possessing fictitious licenses, lending licenses, misrepresenting ownership, failing to surrender suspended/revoked licenses, fraudulent application statements, or permitting unlawful use of one's license/identicard.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Sale or delivery of stolen license/identicard — Applies when a person sells or delivers a stolen driver's license or identicard.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Sale or delivery of stolen license/identicard — Applies when a person sells or delivers a stolen driver's license or identicard.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — financial gain or criminal intent — Applies when manufacturing, selling, or delivering a forged, fictitious, counterfeit, fraudulently altered, or unlawfully issued license/identicard (or blank forms) is committed for financial gain or with intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — financial gain or criminal intent — Applies when manufacturing, selling, or delivering a forged, fictitious, counterfeit, fraudulently altered, or unlawfully issued license/identicard (or blank forms) is committed for financial gain or with intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — other conduct — Applies when the conduct described in subsection (3) does not involve financial gain or intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — other conduct — Applies when the conduct described in subsection (3) does not involve financial gain or intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 90 days (Underage manufacture/delivery of fewer than four fraudulent licenses for age misrepresentation — Applies when a person under 21 manufactures or delivers fewer than four forged, fictitious, counterfeit, or fraudulently altered licenses or identicards solely to misrepresent age.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(3)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.030 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Underage manufacture/delivery of fewer than four fraudulent licenses for age misrepresentation — Applies when a person under 21 manufactures or delivers fewer than four forged, fictitious, counterfeit, or fraudulently altered licenses or identicards solely to misrepresent age.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to current.
How is violations classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor license misuse | Misdemeanor | Applies to displaying/possessing fictitious licenses, lending licenses, misrepresenting ownership, failing to surrender suspended/revoked licenses, fraudulent application statements, or permitting unlawful use of one's license/identicard. | RCW 46.20.0921(1) |
| Sale or delivery of stolen license/identicard | Class C Felony | Applies when a person sells or delivers a stolen driver's license or identicard. | RCW 46.20.0921(2) |
| Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — financial gain or criminal intent | Class C Felony | Applies when manufacturing, selling, or delivering a forged, fictitious, counterfeit, fraudulently altered, or unlawfully issued license/identicard (or blank forms) is committed for financial gain or with intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft. | RCW 46.20.0921(3)(a) |
| Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — other conduct | Gross Misdemeanor | Applies when the conduct described in subsection (3) does not involve financial gain or intent to commit forgery, theft, or identity theft. | RCW 46.20.0921(3)(b) |
| Underage manufacture/delivery of fewer than four fraudulent licenses for age misrepresentation | Misdemeanor | Applies when a person under 21 manufactures or delivers fewer than four forged, fictitious, counterfeit, or fraudulently altered licenses or identicards solely to misrepresent age. | RCW 46.20.0921(4) |
Common questions about violations in Washington
Is violations a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: violations ranges from a Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 46.20.0921.
Misdemeanor license misuse: Misdemeanor (RCW 46.20.0921(1)) · Sale or delivery of stolen license/identicard: Class C Felony (RCW 46.20.0921(2)) · Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — financial gain or criminal intent: Class C Felony (RCW 46.20.0921(3)(a)) · Manufacture/sale/delivery of forged license — other conduct: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 46.20.0921(3)(b)) · Underage manufacture/delivery of fewer than four fraudulent licenses for age misrepresentation: Misdemeanor (RCW 46.20.0921(4))
What are the penalties for violations in Washington?
Penalties for violations in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Misdemeanor up to a Class C Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers violations?
Violations is governed by RCW 46.20.0921 (Violations—Penalty).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.