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History of towing in Washington
How towing rules in Washington took shape: ordinances, contracts, court rulings and state laws, in date order. Every entry links to its source.
How to read this timeline. Entries are in date order. Most rest on a court opinion, a law or a government record. Entries marked "Not yet verified" rest on one secondary or self-reported source, and entries marked "From a news report" rest on news coverage. We leave out private people's names and accusations against companies that have no published outcome.
A state towing chapter (1985 to 1999)
The Legislature enacts the towing and impoundment chapter now codified as chapter 46.55 RCW (Chapter 377, Laws of 1985): registration of tow operators, signs, owner notices, hearings and auctions.
Source: Chapter 46.55 RCW, history notes
The Department of Licensing files its first rules for registered tow truck operators, including the rule on disputed impounds now in WAC 308-61-168.
Source: WAC 308-61-168 history note
A broad amendment (Chapter 111, Laws of 1989) rewrites much of the chapter, including fee schedules filed with the Department, owner notices and the redemption and hearing section.
Source: Chapter 46.55 RCW, history notes
The Seattle Times reports that State Patrol-ordered tows had recently been capped at $75 an hour after a cost study, while private-impound charges had no state limit: companies only had to file their rates with the Department of Licensing.
From a news report News report only; the Patrol's 1991 rate order was not found.
Source: The Seattle Times, April 9, 1991
The Legislature adds suspended-license impounds (Chapter 203, Laws of 1998), with hold periods and a security deposit, finding that suspended drivers pose a serious safety threat.
Court rulings and fee limits (2000 to 2019)
In All Around Underground v. Washington State Patrol, the state Supreme Court holds that impound is the officer's decision; mandatory-impound rules for suspended drivers go beyond the statute.
Source: Opinion (CourtListener)
A new section, RCW 46.55.300 (Chapter 88, Laws of 2005), makes it a gross misdemeanor for a property owner to boot (immobilize) someone else's vehicle. It does not apply on state or local-government property.
Source: RCW 46.55.300
In Potter v. Washington State Patrol, the state Supreme Court holds that the statutory hearing is not the only remedy for an unlawful impound; an owner may sue for conversion.
Source: Opinion (CourtListener)
Bills requested by the State Patrol to make chapter 46.55 the only remedy for impound claims pass the Senate in 2009 and 2010 but stop in a House committee.
Not yet verified The Legislature's summary shows no final enactment; we did not find a session law.
Source: SB 5780 (2009-10) bill summary
'Hailey's law' (Chapter 167, Laws of 2011) requires impound when a driver is arrested for DUI and bars redemption for 12 hours.
Source: RCW 46.55.113 notes (2020 c 117 finding describing the 2011 law)
ESHB 1625 is signed (Chapter 37, Laws of 2013; effective July 28, 2013). New RCW 46.55.118 caps private-impound hourly and storage rates at 135% of State Patrol rates; before this, state law set no limit on private-impound rates. Local rate limits in effect before January 1, 2013 are kept.
Source: RCW 46.55.118 and note; HB 1625 (2013) bill summary; Final House bill report
The 'Denise Chew scooter recovery act' (Chapter 152, Laws of 2017) lets a friend redeem a motorcycle or moped as a bailment while the owner is in the hospital after a crash.
SB 6437 is signed (Chapter 287, Laws of 2018; effective May 1, 2019) to deal with RVs abandoned on public property; RCW 46.55.400 lets tow companies haul them straight to a licensed disposal site.
Source: SB 6437 bill summary; RCW 46.55.400
Vehicle homes, transit lines and help for owners who can't pay (2020 to 2027)
The State Patrol's rule on tow fees (WAC 204-91A-140) is amended: the Patrol sets maximum hourly and storage rates before October 15 each year, and companies agree to them in their letters of appointment.
Source: WAC 204-91A-140
City of Seattle v. Long: impound costs can be an excessive fine, ability to pay counts, and a vehicle home can be a homestead.
Source: Opinion (CourtListener); MRSC summary; Slip opinion (Washington Courts)
The Attorney General's Office writes to more than 400 tow truck operators about the federal protections for active-duty service members' vehicles.
SB 5406, to let tow companies sue the driver responsible for unpaid police-directed recovery and storage charges (capped at State Patrol-based rates), passes the Senate twice but stops in the House.
Not enacted.
WSU's legislatively required report on towing vehicle homes after Long is delivered.
Source: WSU report
SB 5317 takes effect: vehicles blocking high capacity transit can be impounded immediately at a transit authority's direction.
Source: SB 5317 bill summary
HB 2359, on impounds of vehicles used as homes (last resort, no auction, two-day hearings, fee waivers), gets a House committee hearing but no vote.
Not enacted.
Source: HB 2359 bill summary; House bill analysis
SB 5484, on paying tow companies for releasing vehicles to indigent owners, passes the Senate 47-0; it is not enacted as a separate bill. The program itself is created the same year by Chapter 417, Laws of 2025 (RCW 46.55.700).
Which bill became Chapter 417, Laws of 2025 was not confirmed; see records 'coming next'.
Source: SB 5484 bill summary; RCW 46.55.700 notes
HB 2495 takes effect: vehicles blocking streetcar operations in a city of more than 700,000 can be impounded immediately.
Source: HB 2495 bill summary
A 2026 law (Chapter 255) moves the start of the indigent-owner release program from February 1, 2026 to July 1, 2027.
Scheduled: RCW 46.55.700 starts, along with matching changes to RCW 46.55.115 and .120.
Source: Chapter 46.55 RCW
For the rates over the years, see tow and storage rates. Know a record that belongs here? Email corrections@towedhelp.org.
Last checked .