Whenever an act or omission is declared to be unlawful under chapter
46.12, 46.16A, or
46.44 RCW or this chapter, and the operator of the vehicle is not the owner or lessee of the vehicle but is operating or moving the vehicle with the express or implied permission of the owner or lessee, the operator and the owner or lessee are both subject to this chapter, with the primary responsibility to be that of the owner or lessee.
If the person operating the vehicle at the time of the unlawful act or omission is not the owner or the lessee of the vehicle, that person is fully authorized to accept the citation or notice of infraction and execute the promise to appear on behalf of the owner or lessee.