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Washington statute

RCW 9A.56.060 — Unlawful issuance of checks or drafts

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Chapter 9A.56: Theft And Robbery, Revised Code of Washington.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of RCW 9A.56.060

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.

RCW 9A.56.060Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
(1) Any person who shall with intent to defraud, make, or draw, or utter, or deliver to another person any check, or draft, on a bank or other depository for the payment of money, knowing at the time of such drawing, or delivery, that he or she has not sufficient funds in, or credit with the bank or other depository, to meet the check or draft, in full upon its presentation, is guilty of unlawful issuance of bank check. The word "credit" as used herein shall be construed to mean an arrangement or understanding with the bank or other depository for the payment of such check or draft, and the uttering or delivery of such a check or draft to another person without such fund or credit to meet the same shall be prima facie evidence of an intent to defraud. (2) Any person who shall with intent to defraud, make, or draw, or utter, or deliver to another person any check, or draft on a bank or other depository for the payment of money and who issues a stop-payment order directing the bank or depository on which the check is drawn not to honor the check, and who fails to make payment of money in the amount of the check or draft or otherwise arrange a settlement agreed upon by the holder of the check within twenty days of issuing the check or draft is guilty of unlawful issuance of a bank check. (3) When any series of transactions which constitute unlawful issuance of a bank check would, when considered separately, constitute unlawful issuance of a bank check in an amount of seven hundred fifty dollars or less because of value, and the series of transactions are a part of a common scheme or plan, the transactions may be aggregated in one count and the sum of the value of all of the transactions shall be the value considered in determining whether the unlawful issuance of a bank check is to be punished as a class C felony or a gross misdemeanor. (4) Unlawful issuance of a bank check in an amount greater than seven hundred fifty dollars is a class C felony. (5) Unlawful issuance of a bank check in an amount of seven hundred fifty dollars or less is a gross misdemeanor and shall be punished as follows: (a) The court shall order the defendant to make full restitution; (b) The defendant need not be imprisoned, but the court shall impose a fine of up to one thousand one hundred twenty-five dollars for adult offenders. Of the fine imposed, at least three hundred seventy-five dollars or an amount equal to one hundred fifty percent of the amount of the bank check, whichever is greater, shall not be suspended or deferred. Upon conviction for a second offense within any twelve-month period, the court may not suspend or defer any portion of the fine.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is unlawful issuance of checks or drafts a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?

It depends on the circumstances: unlawful issuance of checks or drafts ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.56.060.

Unlawful issuance of a bank check (over $750): Class C Felony (RCW 9A.56.060(4)) · Unlawful issuance of a bank check ($750 or less): Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.56.060(5))

Which Washington statute covers unlawful issuance of checks or drafts?

Unlawful issuance of checks or drafts is governed by RCW 9A.56.060 (Unlawful issuance of checks or drafts).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.