February 17, 2026961March 6, 2026480

I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2495 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

Chief Clerk

Secretary of State

State of Washington

HB 2495.PLHOUSE BILL 2495Passed Legislature2026 Regular Session69th Legislature2026 Regular SessionRepresentatives Thomas, Reed, Scott, Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Parshley, Macri, Street, Pollet, and ObrasRead first time 01/15/26.Referred to Committee on Transportation.Addressing the removal of vehicles by certain cities when obstructing the operation of streetcar vehicles or jeopardizing public safety. AN ACT Relating to the removal of vehicles by certain cities when obstructing the operation of streetcar vehicles or jeopardizing public safety; amending RCW 46.55.080; reenacting and amending RCW 46.55.010; and declaring an emergency. Sec. 1. RCW 46.55.010 and 2023 c 326 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:Definitions.

The definitions set forth in this section apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Abandoned vehicle" means a vehicle that a registered tow truck operator has impounded and held in the operator's possession for 120 consecutive hours.

(2) "Abandoned vehicle report" means the document prescribed by the state that the towing operator forwards to the department after a vehicle has become abandoned.

(3) "Immobilize" means the use of a locking wheel boot that, when attached to the wheel of a vehicle, prevents the vehicle from moving without damage to the tire to which the locking wheel boot is attached.

(4) "Impound" means to take and hold a vehicle in legal custody. There are two types of impounds—public and private.

(a) "Public impound" means that the vehicle has been impounded at the direction of a law enforcement officer or by a public official having jurisdiction over the public property upon which the vehicle was located.

(b) "Private impound" means that the vehicle has been impounded at the direction of a person having control or possession of the private property upon which the vehicle was located.

(5) "Junk vehicle" means a vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 as meeting at least three of the following requirements:

(a) Is three years old or older;

(b) Is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: A broken window or windshield, or missing wheels, tires, motor, or transmission;

(d) Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

(6) "Master log" means the document or an electronic facsimile prescribed by the department and the Washington state patrol in which an operator records transactions involving impounded vehicles.

(7) "Registered tow truck operator" or "operator" means any person who engages in the impounding, transporting, or storage of unauthorized vehicles or the disposal of abandoned vehicles.

(8) "Residential property" means property that has no more than four living units located on it.

(9) "Suspended license impound" means an impound ordered under RCW 46.55.113 because the operator was arrested for a violation of RCW 46.20.342 or 46.20.345.

(10) "Tow truck" means a motor vehicle that is equipped for and used in the business of towing vehicles with equipment as approved by the state patrol.

(11) "Tow truck number" means the number issued by the department to tow trucks used by a registered tow truck operator in the state of Washington.

(12) "Tow truck permit" means the permit issued annually by the department that has the classification of service the tow truck may provide stamped upon it.

(13) "Tow truck service" means the transporting upon the public streets and highways of this state of vehicles, together with personal effects and cargo, by a tow truck of a registered operator.

(14) "Unauthorized vehicle" means a vehicle that is subject to impoundment after being left unattended in one of the following public or private locations for the indicated period of time:

Subject to removal after:
(a)	Public locations:
(i)	Constituting an accident or a traffic hazard as defined in RCW 46.55.113 Immediately
(ii)	On a highway and tagged as described in RCW 46.55.085 24 hours
(iii)	In a publicly owned or controlled parking facility, properly posted under RCW 46.55.070 Immediately
(iv)	Within the right-of-way used by a regional transit authority for high capacity transportation where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to the operation of high capacity transportation vehicles or jeopardizes public safety Immediately
(v)	Within the right-of-way used by a city with a population greater than 700,000 for streetcar operations where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to the operation of streetcar vehicles or jeopardizes public safety Immediately
(b)	Private locations:
(i)	On residential property Immediately
(ii)	On private, nonresidential property, properly posted under RCW 46.55.070 Immediately
(iii)	On private, nonresidential property, not posted 24 hours

2023 c 326 s 1; 2022 c 186 s 708; 2005 c 88 s 2; 1999 c 398 s 2; 1998 c 203 s 8; 1994 c 176 s 1; 1991 c 292 s 1; 1989 c 111 s 1. Prior: 1987 c 330 s 739; 1987 c 311 s 1; 1985 c 377 s 1. Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k). Effective date—2022 c 186: See note following RCW 47.01.071. Finding—1998 c 203: See note following RCW 46.55.105. Construction—Application of rules—Severability—1987 c 330: See notes following RCW 28B.12.050. Sec. 2. RCW 46.55.080 and 2023 c 326 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:Law enforcement, authorized regional transit authority representative, other public official impound, private impound—Master log—Certain associations restricted.

(1) If a vehicle is in violation of the time restrictions of RCW 46.55.010(14), it may be impounded by a registered tow truck operator at the direction of a law enforcement officer, authorized regional transit authority representative under the conditions described in RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(iv), authorized city representative under the conditions described in RCW 46.55.010(14)(a)(v), or other public official with jurisdiction if the vehicle is on public property, or at the direction of the property owner or an agent if it is on private property. A law enforcement officer may also direct the impoundment of a vehicle pursuant to a writ or court order.

(2) The person requesting a private impound or a law enforcement officer, authorized regional transit authority representative, authorized city representative, or public official requesting a public impound shall provide a signed authorization for the impound at the time and place of the impound to the registered tow truck operator before the operator may proceed with the impound. A registered tow truck operator, employee, or his or her agent may not serve as an agent of a property owner for the purposes of signing an impound authorization or, independent of the property owner, identify a vehicle for impound.

(3) In the case of a private impound, the impound authorization shall include the following statement: "A person authorizing this impound, if the impound is found in violation of chapter 46.55 RCW, may be held liable for the costs incurred by the vehicle owner."

(4) A registered tow truck operator shall record and keep in the operator's files the date and time that a vehicle is put in the operator's custody and released. The operator shall make an entry into a master log regarding transactions relating to impounded vehicles. The operator shall make this master log available, upon request, to representatives of the department or the state patrol.

(5) A person who engages in or offers to engage in the activities of a registered tow truck operator may not be associated in any way with a person or business whose main activity is authorizing the impounding of vehicles.

2023 c 326 s 2. Prior: 2022 c 186 s 709; 2018 c 22 s 12; 1999 c 398 s 4; 1989 c 111 s 8; 1987 c 311 s 5; 1985 c 377 s 8. Effective date—2022 c 186: See note following RCW 47.01.071. Explanatory statement—2018 c 22: See note following RCW 1.20.051. Sec. 3.

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.