Disclosure of Law Enforcement Traffic Accident and Vehicle Records
This page discusses the disclosure of traffic accident and vehicle records in the possession of police and sheriff departments in Washington State.
It is part of MRSC's Law Enforcement Records Tool Kit, created in partnership with the State Auditor's Center for Government Innovation.
New Legislation: Effective June 6, 2024:
ESHB 2384 authorizes automated traffic safety cameras (traffic cameras) to be used to detect speed violations on state routes within city limits that are classified as city streets and in work zones. Makes permanent the pilot program in cities with populations above 500,000 permitting traffic cameras to be used at certain locations for public transportation-related infractions. Authorizes traffic cameras to be used to detect public transportation-only lane violations in cities with a bus rapid transit corridor or route. Authorizes traffic cameras to be used as part of a public transportation vehicle-mounted system by a transit authority within a county with a population of more than 1.5 million residents to detect bus stop zone violations. Authorizes civilian employees who work for a law enforcement agency or local public works or transportation department to review and issue notices of infraction for traffic camera enforced infractions. Restricts the use of revenue generated by traffic cameras to certain traffic safety purposes and requires that 25 percent of this revenue be deposited in the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Account, subject to certain exceptions for existing traffic camera programs.
We have updated this page to reflect these changes.
Always consult with your legal counsel if you are unsure whether a record or certain information within the record is exempt or prohibited from disclosure.
Traffic Accident Reports
Traffic accident reports prepared by law enforcement are not exempt and are subject to disclosure. See Guillen v. Pierce County (2001) and Gendler v. Batiste (2012).
However, traffic accident reports compiled and collected by an agency in connection with 23 U.S.C. § 152 for evaluation of dangerous roads are exempt from disclosure under 23 U.S.C. § 407.
Information Obtained from Traffic Safety Cameras
RCW 46.63.220(11) prohibits the public release of photographs, electronic images, and personally identifying data obtained from automated traffic safety cameras (such as red light cameras or school zone speed cameras).
Department of Licensing Records
Releasing an abstract of an individual's driving record is prohibited by RCW 46.52.130, unless released to the individual named in the abstract or other specified entities pursuant to a contract with the Department of Licensing under RCW 46.22.010. Entities authorized to obtain an abstract shall not further release the abstract to a third party except to those third parties listed in RCW 46.52.130(4).
Disclosure of the names and addresses of individual vehicle owners is prohibited in most circumstances by RCW 46.12.635, although there are a number of exceptions.
Disclosure of driver’s license numbers obtained from DOL is prohibited under RCW 46.52.120; see also RCW 42.56.230(7) and 18 U.S.C. § 2721(a)(2) (if retrieved from a database).
