When
is a child safety seat or booster seat required?
The new child
restraint law went into effect on July 1, 2002. Infants are to
ride in rear-facing infant seats until they are 1 years old or
weigh 20 pounds. Children 1 to 4 years old or weighing 40 pounds
are to ride in forward-facing child car seats. Washington law requires
a child who is less than 8 years of age or 4'9" tall (which ever
comes first) be properly restrained in a child booster seat when
both lap and shoulder belts are available.
For more information
on child restraint and seat belt laws, see the Washington Seat
Belt Laws on the main WSP FAQ
page.
Where
do I get criminal history information?
Download the
criminal history background form and send in to the address listed
on the form.
Where
do I get a concealed weapons permit?
Contact a local
county sheriff's office. The Washington State Patrol does not issue
permits.
Where
do I get trip permits?
Contact your
local Department of Licensing.
Where
can I purchase permits?
Rigefield Port
of Entry does not sell permits. Trucks entering Washington are required
to have needed permits at the border. Truckers will need to plan ahead
in purchasing permits before entering the state and facisimile services
are available through the following facilities:
Any
Department of Transportation
permit office,
including Motor
Carrier Services:
Phone:
(360) 704-6340 — Fax: (360)
704-6350 |
|
| Com Data (Transceiver): |
| Trip and Fuel Permits |
(800)
749-6019
M-F,
Business Hours |
| Special Motor Vehicle Permits only |
(800) 749-6019
M-F,
Business Hours |
|
| Washington
Trucking Assoc., Inc. |
(800)
32-9019
Business
Hours |
When
are seat belts required?
According to
RCW 46.61.688, every person sixteen years of age or older operating
or riding in a motor vehicle shall wear the safety belt assembly in
a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner. No person may operate
a motor vehicle unless all child passengers under the age of sixteen
years are either (a) wearing a safety belt assembly or (b) are securely
fastened into an approved child restraint device.
For more information
on seat belt laws, see the Washington Seat Belt Laws on the main WSP
FAQ page.
Can
I ride in the camper on the back of a truck?
Yes, as long
as all seat belts are in use-although no one under sixteen may ride
in the back.
Can
I ride in a camper trailer?
No. According
to RCW 46.61.625, no person or persons shall occupy any trailer while
it is being moved upon a public highway, except a person occupying
a proper position for steering a trailer designed to be steered from
a rear-end position.
Can
I tow another vehicle behind my travel trailer?
No, according
to RCW 46.44.036, it is unlawful for any person to operate upon the
public highways of this state any combination of vehicles consisting
of more than two vehicles.
What
are the requirements for me to tow a vehicle?
According to
RCW 46.44.070, the drawbar or other connection between vehicles in
combination shall be of sufficient strength to hold the weight of
the towed vehicle on any grade where operated. When a disabled vehicle
is being towed by means of bar, chain, rope, cable, or similar means
and the distance between the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle
exceeds fifteen feet, there shall be fastened on such connection in
approximately the center thereof a white flag or cloth not less than
twelve inches square.
What
is the phone number for road and weather pass conditions?
For Washington
state road and travel conditions, you can dial 5-1-1 or our the
DOT toll-free number at 1-800-695-7623. You can also go to the
DOT travel conditions web page at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/.
For Idaho, call
1-208-772-6600, Montana 1-800-226-7623 or 1-406-444-6399. For the
weather forecast, call 1-509-324-8800.
Who
must stop at weight stations/scales?
All vehicles
or combination of vehicle and trailer over 16,000 pounds.
When
entering a freeway, who has the right of way?
When a vehicle
is entering the freeway, it must yield to vehicles already traveling
on the freeway whether there is a yield sign present or not.
Is
it ok to continuously drive in the left lane?
No, according
to RCW 46.61.100. Upon all roadways having two or more lanes for traffic
moving in the same direction, all vehicles shall be driven in the
right-hand lane then available for traffic, except (a) when overtaking
and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, (b)
when traveling at a speed greater than the traffic flow, (c) when
moving left to allow traffic to merge, or (d) when preparing for a
left turn at an intersection, exit, or into a private road or driveway
when such left turn is legally permitted. On any such roadway, a vehicle
or combination over ten thousand pounds shall be driven only in the
right-hand lane except under the conditions enumerated in (a) through
(d) of this subsection.
Can
vehicles pulling trailers drive in the left lane?
According to
RCW 46.61.100, no vehicle towing a trailer or no vehicle or combination
over ten thousand pounds may be driven in the left-hand lane of a
limited access roadway having three or more lanes for traffic moving
in one direction except when preparing for a left turn at an intersection,
exit, or into a private road or driveway when a left turn is legally
permitted.
District
5 Frequently Asked Questions
