Department-approved plate types.
(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:
(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;
(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;
(c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW; and
(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.
(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:
LICENSE PLATE | DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK |
4-H | Displays the "4-H" logo. |
Armed forces collection | Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard. |
Breast cancer awareness | Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness. |
Endangered wildlife | Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state. |
Fred Hutch | Displays the Fred Hutch logo. |
Gonzaga University alumni association | Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association. |
Helping kids speak | Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children. |
Keep kids safe | Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. |
Law enforcement memorial | Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty. |
Music matters | Displays the "Music Matters" logo. |
Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383 | Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show, or characters otherwise identified in accordance with RCW 46.04.383. |
Professional firefighters and paramedics | Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters. |
San Juan Islands | Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands. |
Seattle Mariners | Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo. |
Seattle NHL hockey | Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team. |
Seattle Seahawks | Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo. |
Seattle Sounders FC | Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo. |
Seattle Storm | Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo. |
Seattle University | Recognizes Seattle University. |
Share the road | Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education. |
Ski & ride Washington | Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry. |
State flower | Recognizes the Washington state flower. |
Volunteer firefighters | Recognizes volunteer firefighters. |
Washington apples | Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community. |
Washington farmers and ranchers | Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state. |
Washington lighthouses | Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs. |
Washington state aviation | Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background. |
Washington state parks | Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources. |
Washington state wrestling | Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington. |
Washington tennis | Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state. |
Washington wine | Displays a landscape of Washington's wine regions. |
Washington's fish collection | Recognizes Washington's fish. |
Washington's national park fund | Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks. |
Washington's wildlife collection | Recognizes Washington's wildlife. |
We love our pets | Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation. |
Wild on Washington | Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state. |
(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.
(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ten years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ten years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ten years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.
(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).
[ 2022 c 239 s 2; 2022 c 117 s 2. Prior: 2020 c 129 s 2; 2020 c 93 s 1; prior: 2019 c 384 s 1; 2019 c 177 s 1; 2018 c 67 s 5; prior: 2017 c 25 s 1; 2017 c 11 s 2; prior: 2016 c 36 s 1; 2016 c 30 s 1; 2016 c 16 s 1; 2016 c 15 s 1; prior: 2014 c 77 s 1; 2014 c 6 s 1; 2013 c 286 s 1; 2012 c 65 s 1; prior: 2011 c 229 s 1; 2011 c 225 s 1; 2011 c 171 s 69; 2010 c 161 s 611.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2022 c 239: See note following RCW 46.17.220.
Effective date—2022 c 117: See note following RCW 46.17.220.
Effective date—2020 c 129: See note following RCW 46.17.220.
Effective date—2020 c 93: "This act takes effect July 1, 2020." [ 2020 c 93 s 5.]
Effective date—2019 c 384: "This act takes effect October 1, 2019." [ 2019 c 384 s 4.]
Effective date—2019 c 177: "This act takes effect October 1, 2019." [ 2019 c 177 s 5.]
Effective date—2018 c 67 ss 3-8: See note following RCW 43.388.040.
Effective date—2017 c 25: "This act takes effect October 1, 2017." [ 2017 c 25 s 5.]
Finding—Intent—2017 c 11: "The legislature finds that the aviation industry and community airports are an integral part of Washington's economy. Washington state is home to public use airports serving an average of eighteen thousand five hundred pilots and over nine thousand aircraft annually. They support two hundred forty-eight thousand five hundred jobs and more than fifty billion dollars in economic activity. Aviators play a vital role in our state's response to emergencies and natural disasters. Therefore, the legislature intends with this act to create the Washington state aviation license plate to honor and support the aviation community." [ 2017 c 11 s 1.]
Effective date—2016 c 36: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 36 s 6.]
Effective date—2016 c 30: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 30 s 6.]
Effective date—2016 c 16: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 16 s 6.]
Effective date—2016 c 15: "This act takes effect January 1, 2017." [ 2016 c 15 s 6.]
Effective date—2014 c 77: "This act takes effect January 1, 2015." [ 2014 c 77 s 7.]
Effective date—2014 c 6: "This act takes effect January 1, 2015." [ 2014 c 6 s 6.]
Effective date—2013 c 286: "This act takes effect January 1, 2014." [ 2013 c 286 s 8.]
Effective date—2012 c 65: "This act takes effect January 1, 2013." [ 2012 c 65 s 7.]
Effective date—2011 c 229: "This act takes effect January 1, 2012." [ 2011 c 229 s 6.]
Effective date—2011 c 225: "This act takes effect January 1, 2012." [ 2011 c 225 s 5.]
Intent—Effective date—2011 c 171: See notes following RCW 4.24.210.
Effective date—Intent—Legislation to reconcile chapter 161, Laws of 2010 and other amendments made during the 2010 legislative session—2010 c 161: See notes following RCW 46.04.013.