The TSA defines "telephone solicitation" as the unsolicited initiation of a telephone call by a commercial or nonprofit company

or organization to a residential telephone customer and conversation for the purpose of encouraging a person to purchase property, goods, or services or soliciting donations of money, property, goods, or services.  
 
"Telephone solicitation" does not include:

(a) calls made in response to a request or inquiry by the called party; 

(b) calls made by a not-for-profit organization to its own list of bona fide or active members of the organization; 

(c) calls limited to polling or soliciting the expression of ideas, opinions, or votes; or 

(d) business-to-business contacts.  

The TSA does not cover calls from political parties.  

The CTSRA defines "commercial telephone solicitation" as:

(a) an unsolicited telephone call to a person initiated by a salesperson, and conversation for the purpose of inducing the person to purchase or invest in property, goods, or services;
 
(b) other communication with a person where:  (i) a free gift, award, or prize is offered to a purchaser who has not previously purchased from the person initiating the communication; and (ii) a telephone call response is invited; and (iii) the salesperson intends to complete a sale or enter into an agreement to purchase during the course of the telephone call; or
 
(c) other communication with a person which misrepresents the price, quality, or availability of property, goods, or services and which invites a response by telephone or which is followed by a call to the person by a salesperson. 

"Commercial telephone solicitor" means any person who engages in commercial telephone solicitation, including service bureaus.  

However, the CTSRA exempts a number of specific industries and activities (e.g., isolated solicitations; calls by charities and collection agencies; the sale of certain securities, cable television, fish, etc.)  

At any point during the call, if the called party states or indicates that they do not want to be called again

or want to have their contact information removed from the solicitor's telephone lists, the solicitor:  (1) must not make any additional telephone solicitation

of the called party at that telephone number for at least one year; and

(2) must not sell or give the called party's name and telephone number to another company or organization.

Commercial telephone solicitors

must register with the Department of Licensing to do business in Washington.  Doing business includes both commercial telephone solicitation from a location in Washington and solicitation of purchasers located in Washington.  

The Department of Licensing may

take disciplinary action when a commercial telephone solicitor engages in unprofessional conduct under the Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act, or: 

(1) engages in any unfair or deceptive commercial telephone solicitation;

(2) places calls to a residence that will be received before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.; or (3) engages in conduct

to harass, intimidate, or torment any person. 

Individuals subject to repeated violations may bring a civil action

to enjoin violations and recover damages, including at least $100

per violation.  A prevailing plaintiff is entitled to attorney's fees and costs.  
 

A person who is injured by a violation may bring an action for recovery of actual damages, attorney's fees, and costs.  
 
A violation is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce for the purposes of the Consumer Protection Act.  

A knowing violation or the knowing employment of any device, scheme,

or artifice to deceive in connection with an offer or sale by a commercial telephone solicitor is punishable as a misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or class C felony depending on the value of the transaction.  
 
Solicitation without registration is a misdemeanor.