Washington statute
RCW 46.61.673 — Dangerously distracted driving
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Chapter 46.61: Rules Of The Road, Revised Code of Washington.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of RCW 46.61.673
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the official text of the Revised Code of Washington from the Code Reviser's published files; it is not the official statutes of the State of Washington.
(1)(a) It is a traffic infraction to drive dangerously distracted. Any driver who commits this infraction must be assessed a base penalty of thirty dollars.
(b) Enforcement of the infraction of driving dangerously distracted may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a motor vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of a separate traffic infraction or an equivalent local ordinance.
(c) For the purposes of this section, "dangerously distracted" means a person who engages in any activity not related to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that interferes with the safe operation of such motor vehicle on any highway.
(2) The additional monetary penalty imposed under this section must be deposited into the distracted driving prevention account created in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) The distracted driving prevention account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the base penalty in subsection (1) of this section must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only to support programs dedicated to reducing distracted driving and improving driver education on distracted driving.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is dangerously distracted driving a crime in Washington?
Dangerously distracted driving is a Traffic Infraction in Washington — a civil violation under chapter 46.63 RCW, not a crime; it carries a monetary penalty, not jail. Governed by RCW 46.61.673.
Which Washington statute covers dangerously distracted driving?
Dangerously distracted driving is governed by RCW 46.61.673 (Dangerously distracted driving).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.