BRAKES AND MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT

SEA-MC tit. 11, subtit. I, pt. 8, ch. 11.84

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.020 Braking equipment required

11.84.020 - Braking equipment required Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer, and any combination of such vehicles operating upon a street or alley shall be equipped with brakes in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. A. Service Brakes—Adequacy. Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles, except special mobile equipment as defined in Section 11.44.585, shall be equipped with service brakes complying with the performance requirements of Section 11.84.040 and adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle under all conditions of loading, and on any grade incident to its operation. B. Parking Brakes—Adequacy. Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, shall be equipped with parking brakes adequate to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is operated, under all conditions of loading, on a surface free from snow, ice, or loose material. The parking brakes shall be capable of being applied in conformance with the foregoing requirements by the driver's muscular effort or by spring action or by equivalent means. The operation of parking brakes may be assisted by the service brakes or other source of power; provided, that failure of the service brake actuation system, or other power assisting mechanism, will not prevent the parking brakes from being applied in conformance with the foregoing requirements. The parking brakes shall be so designed that when once applied, they shall remain applied with the required effectiveness, despite exhaustion of any source of energy or leakage of any kind. The same brake drums, brake shoes and lining assemblies, brake-shoe anchors and mechanical brake shoe actuation mechanism normally associated with the wheel brake assemblies may be used for both the service brakes and the parking brakes. If the means of applying the parking brakes and the service brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one (1) part shall not leave the vehicle without operative brakes. C. Brakes on all wheels. Every vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels except: 1. Trailers, cargo extensions, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, provided that: a. The total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers or cargo extension shall not exceed 40 percent of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and b. The combination of vehicles consisting of the towing vehicle and its total towed load is capable of complying with the performance requirements of Section 11.84.040. 2. Trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers manufactured and assembled prior to July 1, 1965, shall not be required to be equipped with brakes when the total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers does not exceed 2,000 pounds. 3. Any vehicle being towed in drive-away or tow-away operations, provided the combination of vehicles is capable of complying with the performance requirements of Section 11.84.040. 4. Trucks and truck-tractors having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels, except that when such vehicles are equipped with at least two steerable axles, the wheels of one steerable axle need not have brakes. However, such trucks and truck-tractors must be capable of complying with the performance requirements of Section 11.84.040. 5. Special mobile equipment as defined in Section 11.14.840. 6. The wheel of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle or to a motor-driven cycle, or the front wheel of a motor-driven cycle need not be equipped with brakes, provided that such motorcycle or motor-driven cycle is capable of complying with the performance requirements of Section 11.84.040. D. Automatic Trailer Brake Application upon Breakaway. Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer equipped with air or vacuum actuated brakes and every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer with a gross weight in excess of three thousand (3,000) pounds, manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels and of such character as to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied for at least fifteen (15) minutes, upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. E. Tractor Brakes Protected. Every motor vehicle manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964 and used to tow a trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer equipped with brakes, shall be equipped with means for stopping such towing vehicle by the use of its service brakes in the event the towed vehicle breaks away. F. Trailer Air Reservoirs Safeguarded. Airbrake systems installed on trailers manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1964, shall be so designed that the supply reservoir used to provide air for the brakes shall be safeguarded against backflow of air from the reservoir through the supply line. G. Two (2) Means of Emergency Brake Operation. 1. Air Brakes. Every towing vehicle, when used in other than drive-away or tow-away operations to tow another vehicle (trailer) equipped with air-controlled brakes, shall be equipped with two (2) means for emergency application of the trailer brakes. One (1) of these means shall apply the trailer brakes automatically in the event of a reduction of the towing vehicle's air supply to a fixed pressure. The fixed pressure shall be not lower than twenty (20) pounds per square inch, nor higher than forty-five (45) pounds per square inch. The other means of applying the trailer brakes shall be a manually controlled device for applying and releasing of the brakes, readily operable by a person seated in the towing vehicle's driving seat; and its emergency position or method of operation shall be clearly indicated. In no instance may the manual means of operation of trailer brakes be so arranged as to permit its use to prevent operation of the automatic means of applying trailer brakes. The automatic and the manual means of operation of trailer brakes required by this section may be, but are not required to be, separate. 2. Vacuum Brakes. Every towing vehicle used to tow other vehicles equipped with vacuum brakes, in operations other than drive-away or tow-away operations, shall have, in addition to the single control device required by subsection H, a second control device which can be used to operate the brakes on towed vehicles in emergencies. The second control shall be independent of brake air, hydraulic and other pressure, and independent of other controls, unless the braking system be so arranged that failure of the pressure upon which the second control depends will cause the towed vehicle brakes to be applied automatically. The second control is not required to provide modulated braking. H. Single Control to Operate All Brakes. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer, and every combination of such vehicles, except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, equipped with brakes shall have the braking system so arranged that one (1) control device can be used to operate all service brakes. This requirement does not prohibit vehicles from being equipped with an additional control device to be used to operate brakes on the towed vehicles. This regulation does not apply to drive-away or tow-away operations unless the brakes on the individual vehicles are designed to be operated by a single control in the towing vehicle. I. Reservoir Capacity and Check Valve. 1. Air Brakes. Every bus, truck or trucktractor with air-operated brakes shall be equipped with at least one (1) reservoir sufficient to insure that, when fully charged to the maximum pressure as regulated by air compressor governor cut-out setting, a full service brake application may be made without lowering such reservoir pressure by more than twenty percent (20%). Each reservoir shall be provided with means for readily draining accumulated oil or water. 2. Vacuum Brakes. Every truck with three (3) or more axles equipped with vacuum assistor type brakes and every truck-tractor and truck used for towing a vehicle equipped with vacuum brakes shall be equipped with a reserve capacity or a vacuum reservoir sufficient to insure that, with the reserve capacity or reservoir fully charged and with the engine stopped, a full service brake application may be made without depleting the vacuum supply by more than forty percent (40%). 3. Reservoir Safeguarded. All motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers and pole trailers, when equipped with air or vacuum reservoirs or reserve capacity as required by this section, shall have such reservoirs or reserve capacity so safeguarded by a check valve or equivalent device that in the event of failure or leakage in its connection to the source of compressed air or vacuum, the stored air or vacuum shall not be depleted by the leak or failure. J. Warning Devices. 1. Air Brakes. Every bus, truck or trucktractor using compressed air for the operation of its own brakes or the brakes on any towed vehicle, shall be provided with a warning signal, other than a pressure gauge, readily audible or visible to the driver, which will operate at any time the air reservoir pressure of the vehicle is below fifty percent (50%) of the air compressor governor cut-out pressure. In addition, each such vehicle shall be equipped with a pressure gauge visible to the driver, which indicates in pounds per square inch the pressure available for braking. 2. Vacuum Brakes. Every truck-tractor and truck used for towing a vehicle equipped with vacuum-operated brakes and every truck with three (3) or more axles using vacuum in the operation of its brakes, except those in drive-away or tow-away operations, shall be equipped with a warning signal, other than a gauge indicating vacuum, readily audible or visible to the driver, which will operate at any time the vacuum in the vehicle's supply reservoir or reserve capacity is less than eight inches (8") of mercury. 3. Combination of Warning Devices. When a vehicle required to be equipped with a warning device is equipped with both air and vacuum power for the operation of its own brakes or the brakes on a towed vehicle, the warning devices may be, but are not required to be, combined into a single device which will serve both purposes. A gauge or gauges indicating pressure or vacuum shall not be deemed to be an adequate means of satisfying this requirement. (RCW 46.37.340) (Ord. 125253, § 10, 2017; Ord. 112421, § 10, 1985; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.020), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.040 Performance ability of brakes.

11.84.040 - Performance ability of brakes. A. Every motor vehicle and combination of vehicles, at all times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service brakes, shall be capable of: 1. Developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight tabulated herein for its classification; 2. Decelerating to a stop from not more than twenty (20) miles per hour at not less than the feet per second tabulated herein for its classification; and 3. Stopping from a speed of twenty (20) miles per hour in not more than the distance tabulated herein for its classification, such distance to be measured from the point at which movement of the service brake pedal or control begins. B. Tests for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus one percent (1%) grade), dry, smooth, hard surface that is free from loose material. (See Table 11.84.040) Table for Section 11.84.040 Classification of vehicles | Braking force as a percentage of gross vehicle or combination weight | Deceleration in feet per second | Brake system application and braking distance in feet from an initial speed of 20 m.p.h. A | Passenger vehicles with a seating capacity of 10 people or less including driver, not having a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating | 52.8% | 17 | 25 B-1 | All motorcycles and motor-driven cycles | 43.5% | 14 | 30 B-2 | Single-unit vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less | 43.5% | 14 | 30 C-1 | Single-unit vehicles with a manufacturer's gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds | 43.5% | 14 | 40 C-2 | Combinations of a two-axle towing vehicle and a trailer with a gross trailer weight of 3,000 pounds or less | 43.5% | 14 | 40 C-3 | Buses, regardless of the number of axles, not having manufacturer's gross weight rating | 43.5% | 14 | 40 C-4 | All combinations of vehicles in drive-away/tow-away operations | 43.5% | 14 | 40 D | All other vehicles and combinations of vehicles | 43.5% | 14 | 50 (RCW 46.37.351) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.040), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.060 Maintenance of brakes.

11.84.060 - Maintenance of brakes. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally effectively and simultaneously as practicable with respect to the front and back wheels and with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle. (RCW 46.37.360) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.060), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.070 Compression brakes.

11.84.070 - Compression brakes. A. 1. This subsection applies to all motor vehicles with a declared gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds operated on a street or alley and equipped with engine compression brake devices. An engine compression brake device is any device that uses the engine and transmission to impede the forward motion of the motor vehicle by compression of the engine. 2. The driver of a motor vehicle equipped with a device that uses the compression of the motor vehicle engine shall not use the device unless: a. The motor vehicle is equipped with an operational muffler and exhaust system to prevent excess noise. The muffler and exhaust system must maintain the noise level at eighty three (83) decibels or less for motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1979, and eighty (80) decibels or less for motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1988; or b. The driver reasonably believes that an emergency exists which requires the use of the device to protect against an immediate threat to the physical safety of the driver or others, protect against immediate threat of damage to property, or effectively reduce the speed of the motor vehicle using the manufacturer's motor vehicle braking system when declining from an elevated roadway. 3. The monetary penalty for violating this subsection is two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first violation, five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the second violation, and (c) seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) for each violation thereafter. (RCW 46.37.395) B. 1. In addition to the restriction imposed by subsection A of this section, no person shall use an engine compression brake device while operating a motor vehicle on any street where signs prohibit the use of compression brakes, except where an immediate stoppage or slowing of the vehicle is necessary in order to prevent injury to persons or damage to property or to remedy an injury that has already occurred, and that friction brakes are either not available or would not have been as effective in bringing the vehicle to a stop or slowing it. 2. This subsection shall not apply to vehicles of a municipal fire department, whether or not responding to an emergency, participating in an exercise in emergency management, or rendering assistance under a mutual aid pact. (Ord. 122742, § 33, 2008.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.080 Muffler.

11.84.080 - Muffler. Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a street or alley. (RCW 46.37.390(1)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.080), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.090 Transporting children.

11.84.090 - Transporting children. No person shall transport a child under the age of five on a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. (Ord. 113906 § 3, 1988.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.100 Smoke and air contaminants—Standards—Definitions.

11.84.100 - Smoke and air contaminants—Standards—Definitions. A. No motor vehicle first sold and registered as a new motor vehicle on or after January 1, 1971, shall discharge into the atmosphere at elevations of less than three thousand feet (3,000') any air contaminant for a period of more than ten (10) seconds which is: 1. As dark as or darker than the shade designated as No. 1 on the Ringelmann chart, as published by the United States Bureau of Mines; or 2. Of such opacity as to obscure an observer's view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in subsection A1. B. No motor vehicle first sold and registered prior to January 1, 1971 shall discharge into the atmosphere at elevations of less than three thousand feet (3,000') any air contaminant for a period of more than ten (10) seconds which is: 1. As dark or darker than the shade designated as No. 2 of the Ringelmann chart, as published by the United States Bureau of Mines; or 2. Of such opacity as to obscure an observer's view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in subsection B2. C. For the purposes of this subsection the following definitions shall apply: 1. "Opacity" means the degree to which an emission reduces the transmission of light and obscures the view of an object in the background. 2. "Ringelmann chart" means the Ringelmann smoke chart with instructions for use as published by the United States Bureau of Mines in May, 1967, and as thereafter amended, information circular 7718, which is adopted by reference and three (3) copies of which are placed on file with the City Clerk. (RCW 46.37.390(2)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.100), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.120 Mirrors.

11.84.120 - Mirrors. A. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror mounted on the left side of the vehicle and so located to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear of such vehicle. B. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with an additional mirror mounted either inside the vehicle approximately in the center or outside the vehicle on the right side and so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear of such vehicle. C. All mirrors required by this section shall be maintained in good condition. (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.120), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.140 Windshield obstruction.

11.84.140 - Windshield obstruction. No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings or side or rear windows of such vehicle which obstructs the driver's clear view of the street or alley or any intersecting street or alley. (RCW 46.37.410(1)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.140), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.150 Application of tinting or coloring material.

11.84.150 - Application of tinting or coloring material. A. No film screening or coloring material that reduces light transmittance to any degree may be applied to the surface of the safety glazing material in a motor vehicle unless it meets the following standards for such material: 1. The maximum level of net film sunscreening to be applied to any window, except the windshield, shall have a total reflectance of thirty-five percent (35%) or less, and a light transmission of twenty-four percent (24%) where the vehicle is equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the right and left. Installation of more than a single sheet of film sunscreening material to any window is prohibited. 2. Hearses, collector vehicles, limousines and passenger buses used to transport persons for compensation, ambulances, rescue squad vehicles, any other emergency vehicle licensed under RCW 18.73.130 that is used to transport patients and any vehicle identified by the manufacturer as a truck, motor home or multipurpose passenger vehicle as defined in C.F.R. section 571.3 may have net film sunscreening applied on any window to the rear of the driver that has less than twenty-four percent (24%) light transmittance, if the light reflectance is thirty-five percent (35%) or less and the vehicle is equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the right and left. 3. A person or business tinting windows for profit who tints windows within restricted areas of the glazing system shall supply a sticker to be affixed to the driver's door post, in the area adjacent to the manufacturer's identification tag. Installation of this sticker certifies that the glazing application meets this chapter's standards for light transmission, reflectance, and placement requirements. Stickers must be no smaller than three-quarters of an inch (¾") by one and one-half inches (1 ½"), and no larger than two inches (2") by two and one-half inches (2 ½"). The stickers must be of sufficient quality to endure exposure to harsh climate conditions. The business name and state tax identification number of the installer must be clearly visible on the sticker. 4. A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top six inches (6") of windshields of a vehicle operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who possesses a written verification from a licensed physician that the operator or passenger must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons. 5. A greater degree of light reduction is permitted along the top edge of the windshield as long as the product is transparent and does not extend into the AS-1 portion of the windshield or extend more than six inches (6") from the top of the windshield. Clear film sunscreening material that reduces or eliminates ultraviolet light may be applied to windshields. 6. When film sunscreening material is applied to any window except the windshield, outside mirrors on both the left and right sides shall be located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the roadway, through each mirror, a distance of at least two hundred feet (200') to the rear of the vehicle. 7. The following types of film sunscreening material are not permitted: a. Mirror finish products; b. Red, gold, yellow, or black material; or c. Film sunscreening material that is in liquid preapplication form and brushed or sprayed on. B. The side and rear windows of law enforcement vehicles are exempt from the requirements of subsection A of this section. C. Nothing in this section prohibits: 1. The use of shaded or heat-absorbing safety glazing material in which the shading or heat-absorbing characteristics have been applied at the time of manufacture of the safety glazing material and which meet federal standards for such safety glazing materials. 2. The use and placement of federal, state or local certificates or decals on any window as required by applicable laws or regulations. However, any such certificate must be of a size and placed on the motor vehicle so as not to impair the ability of the driver to safely operate the motor vehicle. 3. Sunscreening devices to be applied to any window behind the driver provided that the devices reduce the driver's area of vision uniformly and by no more than fifty percent (50%), as measured on a horizontal plane. If sunscreening devices are applied to the rear window, the vehicle must be equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the left and right. 4. Recreational products, such as toys, cartoon characters, stuffed animals, signs and any other vision-reducing article or material to be applied to or placed in windows behind the driver provided they do not interfere, in their size or position, with the driver's ability to see other vehicles, persons or objects. D. For purposes of this section: 1. "Light transmission" means the ratio of the amount of total visible light, expressed in percentages, that is allowed to pass through the sunscreening or coloring material to the amount of total visible light falling on the motor vehicle window. 2. "Net film sunscreening" means the total sunscreening or coloring material applied to the window that includes both the material applied by the manufacturer during the safety glazing and any film sunscreening or coloring material applied after the vehicle is manufactured. 3. "Reflectance" means the ratio of the amount of total light, expressed in percentages, that is reflected outward by the sunscreening or coloring material to the amount of total light falling on the motor vehicle window. 4. "Safety glazing materials" means glazing materials so constructed, treated, or combined with other materials as to reduce substantially, in comparison with ordinary sheet glass or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from exterior sources or by these safety glazing materials when they may be cracked or broken. E. No person shall operate on a street or alley a vehicle that is equipped with film sunscreening or coloring material in violation of this section. (RCW 46.37.430) (Ord. 123190, § 18, 2009; Ord. 122742, § 34, 2008; Ord. 113906 § 1, 1988.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.160 Windshield wiper.

11.84.160 - Windshield wiper. The windshield on every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield, which device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle. No person shall operate a motor vehicle which is not equipped with such device or devices in good working order capable of cleaning the windshield thereof over two (2) separate arcs, one each on the left and right side of the windshield, each capable of cleaning a surface of not less than one hundred twenty (120) square inches, or other device or devices capable of accomplishing substantially the same result. Every windshield wiper upon a motor vehicle shall be maintained in good working order. (RCW 46.37.410(2)(3)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.160), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.180 Tires—Pneumatic.

11.84.180 - Tires—Pneumatic. No person shall operate a vehicle upon a street or alley unless it is completely equipped with pneumatic rubber tires: Provided, that a permit may be issued by the Traffic Engineer for the use of nonpneumatic tires when it has been determined that such equipment will not harm the roadway surface nor interfere with normal traffic operation. (RCW 46.37.420(1), (3)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.180), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.200 Tire cleats and chains.

11.84.200 - Tire cleats and chains. A. No tire on a vehicle moved on a street or alley shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat or spike or any other protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it shall be permissible to use farm machinery equipped with pneumatic tires or solid rubber tracks having protuberances which will not injure the street and except also that it shall be permissible to use tire chains, alternate traction devices or metal studs imbedded within the tire of reasonable proportions and of a type conforming to rules adopted by the State Patrol upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid: Provided, that it shall be unlawful to use metal studs imbedded within the tire between April 1 st and November 1 st , except that a vehicle may be equipped year-round with tires that have retractable studs if the studs retract pneumatically or mechanically to below the wear bar of the tire when not in use and are engaged only between November 1 st and April 1 st : Provided further, that the use of tires with metal studs imbedded therein shall be lawful during additional periods when the State Department of Transportation so determines. B. Tires with metal studs imbedded therein may be used between November 1st and April 1st upon school buses and Fire Department vehicles, any law or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding. (RCW 46.37.420(2), (4)) (Ord. 123946, § 15, 2012; Ord. 122742, § 35, 2008; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.200), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.220 Pneumatic passenger car tires—Standards—Exception for off-street use.

11.84.220 - Pneumatic passenger car tires—Standards—Exception for off-street use. A. No person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for sale for use on any street or alley any new pneumatic passenger car tire which does not meet the standards established by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109, as promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation under authority of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 719, 728; 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407). B. The applicable standard shall be the version of standard No. 109 in effect at the time of manufacture of the tire. C. No person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any new pneumatic passenger car tire which does not meet the standards prescribed in this section unless such tires are sold for off-street use, as evidenced by a statement signed by the purchaser at the time of sale certifying that he is not purchasing such tires for use on a street or alley. (RCW 46.37.423) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.220), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.240 Regrooved tires—Standards—Exception for off-street use.

11.84.240 - Regrooved tires—Standards—Exception for off-street use. A. No person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any regrooved tire and no person, firm or corporation shall regroove any tire for use on a street or alley which does not meet the standard established by Federal Motor Vehicle Standard part 569 regrooved tires, as promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation under authority of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (80 Stat. 719, 728; 15 U.S.C. 1392, 1407). B. The applicable standard shall be the version of the federal regrooved tire standard in effect at the time of regrooving. C. No person, firm or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any regrooved tire and no person, firm or corporation shall regroove any tire which does not meet the standards prescribed in this section unless such tires are sold or regrooved for off-street use, as evidenced by a statement signed by the purchaser or regroover at the time of sale or regrooving certifying that he is not purchasing or regrooving such tires for use on a street or alley. (RCW 46.37.424) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.240), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.260 Tires—Safe operating condition.

11.84.260 - Tires—Safe operating condition. A. No person shall drive or move or cause to be driven or moved upon a street or alley on tires which have contact with the driving surface of the road, any vehicle subject to registration in this state, unless such vehicle is equipped with tires in safe operating condition in accordance with requirements established by the State Commission on Equipment. B. A tire shall be considered unsafe if it has: 1. Any ply or cord exposed either to the naked eye or when cuts or abrasions on the tire are probed; or 2. Any bump, bulge or knot, affecting the tire structure; or 3. Any break repaired with a boot; or 4. A tread depth of less than ( 2/32 ) of an inch measured in any two (2) major tread grooves at three (3) locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire, or for those tires with tread wear indicators, a tire shall be considered unsafe if it is worn to the point that the tread wear indicators contact the road in any two (2) major tread grooves at three (3) locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire; or 5. A legend which indicates the tire is not intended for use on public highway such as, "not for highway use," or "for racing purposes only"; or 6. Such conditions as may be reasonably demonstrated to render it unsafe; or 7. If not matched in tire size designations, construction, and profile to the other tire and/or tires on the same axle. C. The condition or defect must be such that it can be detected by a visual inspection of tires mounted on vehicles, including visual comparison with simple measuring gauges. (RCW 46.37.425) (Ord. 109475 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.260), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.300 Tire condition—Selling of vehicle.

11.84.300 - Tire condition—Selling of vehicle. No person, firm or corporation shall sell any vehicle for use on a street or alley unless the vehicle is equipped with tires that are in compliance with the provisions of Section 11.84.260. If the tires are found to be in violation of Section 11.84.260, the person, firm or corporation selling the vehicle shall cause such tires to be removed from the vehicle and shall equip the vehicle with tires that are in compliance with the provisions of Section 11.84.260. (RCW 46.37.425) (Ord. 109475 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.300), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.320 Horns and warning devices.

11.84.320 - Horns and warning devices. Every motor vehicle when operated upon a street shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under conditions of no background noise from a distance of not less than two hundred feet (200'), but no horn or other warning device shall emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound which exceeds eighty-five (85) dB(a) at two hundred feet (200'). The driver of a motor vehicle shall when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation give audible warning with his horn but shall not otherwise use such horn when upon a street or alley. (RCW 46.37.380) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.320), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.340 Siren, whistle, or bell prohibited.

11.84.340 - Siren, whistle, or bell prohibited. No vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter: Provided, that it is permissible for any vehicle to be equipped with a theft alarm signal device so long as it is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal. Such a theft alarm signal device may use a whistle, bell, horn, or other audible sound but shall not use a siren: Provided further, that it is permissible to equip a vehicle with a bell that gives warning either when the vehicle is backing up or when the emergency brake system releases. (RCW 46.37.380(2), (3)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.340), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.345 Turning off automatic automobile alarms.

11.84.345 - Turning off automatic automobile alarms. A. Duty. The owner of a vehicle equipped with an automatic audible theft alarm device shall turn it off or cause it to be turned off within five (5) minutes after the alarm sounds, provided that if such a vehicle is owned by an agency engaged in the business of renting motor vehicles to the public (called a rental agency) and is under lease, the lessee of the vehicle shall turn off or cause the alarm device to be turned off within five (5) minutes after the alarm sounds. B. Defenses. It is a defense that: 1. The alarm sounded because the vehicle was damaged, or was the object of an unlawful entry or theft or an attempt at an unlawful entry or theft; or 2. When the alarm sounded, the owner or operator attempted to turn the alarm off, but was unable to do so because the alarm equipment had been damaged or tampered with; or 3. The alarm was deliberately sounded as a method of summoning assistance in an emergency involving an injury or threat to life by a person who is present at the site at the time the police arrive; or 4. The vehicle was being used without the consent of the owner, express or implied, and the owner had reported its loss or theft to the police. C. Allocation of Responsibility Between Rental Agency and Lessee. The notice of civil infraction shall be placed upon the vehicle or issued to the operator and charged to the rental agency as owner unless the rental agency (a) shows that the vehicle had been rented to another at the time of the incident, (b) declares that the audible alarm equipment was in good operating order at the time the vehicle was rented, and (c) supplies the name and address of the lessee of the vehicle. A lessee who receives a notice of civil infraction as an operator or is charged on the basis of an identification by the rental agency may secure the reinstatement or substitution of the rental agency in his or her place, if the rental agency consents thereto at or before a hearing requested to contest the determination, or the rental agency accepts in writing responsibility for the failure of the alarm to be turned off within five (5) minutes, and promises to make payment of the monetary penalty. (Ord. 116701, § 1, 1993.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.360 Emergency vehicle audible sound.

11.84.360 - Emergency vehicle audible sound. Any authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with a siren, whistle or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under conditions of no background noise from a distance of not less than five hundred feet (500') and of a type approved by the State Commission on Equipment, but such siren shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which said latter events the driver of such vehicle shall sound the siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof. (RCW 46.37.380(4)) (Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.360), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.370 Signal preemption devices prohibited except on certain vehicles—Exceptions—Penalty for possession, use, sale or purchase.

11.84.370 - Signal preemption devices prohibited except on certain vehicles—Exceptions—Penalty for possession, use, sale or purchase. A. Signal preemption devices shall not be installed or used on or with any vehicle other than an emergency vehicle authorized by the state patrol, a publicly owned law enforcement or emergency vehicle, a department of transportation, city, or county maintenance vehicle, or a public transit vehicle. B. This section does not apply to any of the following: 1. A law enforcement agency and law enforcement personnel in the course of providing law enforcement services; 2. A fire station or a fire fighter in the course of providing fire prevention or fire extinguishing services; 3. An emergency medical service or ambulance in the course of providing emergency medical transportation or ambulance services; 4. An operator, passenger, or owner of an authorized emergency vehicle in the course of his or her emergency duties; 5. Department of transportation, city, or county maintenance personnel while performing maintenance; 6. Public transit personnel in the performance of their duties. However, public transit personnel operating a signal preemption device shall have second degree priority to law enforcement personnel, fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, and other authorized emergency vehicle personnel, when simultaneously approaching the same traffic control signal; 7. A mail or package delivery service or employee or agent of a mail or package delivery service in the course of shipping or delivering a signal preemption device; 8. An employee or agent of a signal preemption device manufacturer or retailer in the course of his or her employment in providing, selling, manufacturing, or transporting a signal preemption device to an individual or agency described in this subsection. (RCW 46.37.670) C. Possessing a signal preemption device except as otherwise authorized by this section is a misdemeanor. (RCW 46.37.671) D. Using a signal preemption device except as otherwise authorized by this section, selling a signal preemption device to a person other than a person described in this section, or purchasing a signal preemption device for use other than a duty as described in this section is a gross misdemeanor. (RCW 46.37.672) (Ord. 122742, § 36, 2008.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.380 Fire extinguishers

11.84.380 - Fire extinguishers Any person operating any vehicle transporting any explosive or flammable cargo upon a street or alley shall at all times keep the vehicle equipped with at least one fire extinguisher, filled and ready for immediate use, and placed at a convenient point on the vehicle so used. (Ord. 124950, § 15, 2015; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.380), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.400 Fenders or splash aprons

11.84.400 - Fenders or splash aprons A. Except as authorized under subsection 11.84.400.B, no person shall operate any motor vehicle, trailer, cargo extension, or semitrailer that is not equipped with fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons adequate for minimizing the spray or splash of water or mud from the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. All such devices shall be as wide as the tires behind which they are mounted and extend downward at least to the center of the axle. B. A motor vehicle that is not less than 40 years old or a street rod vehicle that is owned and operated primarily as a collector's item need not be equipped with fenders when the vehicle is used and driven during fair weather on well-maintained, hard-surfaced roads. (Ord. 125253, § 11, 2017; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.400), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.440 Earphones

11.84.440 - Earphones A. No person shall operate any motor vehicle on a public highway while wearing any headset or earphones connected to any electronic device capable of receiving a radio broadcast or playing a sound recording for the purpose of transmitting a sound to the human auditory senses and which headset or earphones muffle or exclude other sounds. This subsection 11.84.440.A does not apply to students and instructors participating in a Washington state motorcycle safety program. B. This Section 11.84.440 does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles, motorcyclists wearing a helmet with built-in headsets or earphones as approved by the Washington state patrol, or motorists using hands-free, wireless communications systems, as approved by the equipment section of the Washington state patrol. (Ord. 126517, § 32, 2021; Ord. 123632, § 18, 2011; Ord. 122742, § 37, 2008; Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.440), 1979.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.490 Personal electronic devices

11.84.490 - Personal electronic devices A. No person may use a personal electronic device while driving a motor vehicle on a street or alley. B. Subsection 11.84.490.A does not apply to: 1. A driver who is using a personal electronic device to contact emergency services; 2. The use of a system by a transit system employee for time-sensitive relay communication between the transit system employee and the transit system's dispatch services; 3. An individual employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver who uses a personal electronic device within the scope of such individual's employment if such use is permitted under 49 U.S.C. § 31136; or 4. A person operating an authorized emergency vehicle. C. A second or subsequent offense under this Section 11.84.490 is subject to twice the penalty amount under Section 11.31.120. D. For purposes of this Section 11.84.490: 1. "Driving" means to operate a motor vehicle on a street or alley, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. "Driving" does not include when the vehicle has pulled over to the side of, or off of, an active roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary. 2. "Personal electronic device" means any portable electronic device that is capable of wireless communication or electronic data retrieval and is not manufactured primarily for hands-free use in a motor vehicle. "Personal electronic device" includes, but is not limited to, a cell phone, tablet, laptop, two-way messaging device, or electronic game. "Personal electronic device" does not include two-way radio, citizens band radio, or amateur radio equipment. 3. "Use" or "uses" means: a. Holding a personal electronic device in either hand or both hands; b. Using one's hand or finger to compose, send, read, view, access, browse, transmit, save, or retrieve email, text messages, instant messages, photographs, or other electronic data; however, this does not preclude the minimal use of a finger to activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of the device; or c. Watching video on a personal electronic device. (Ord. 125344, § 9, 2017)

Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.500 Vehicle sound system components.

11.84.500 - Vehicle sound system components. A. All vehicle sound system components, including any supplemental speaker systems or components, must be securely attached to the vehicle regardless of where the components are located so that the components cannot become dislodged or loose during operation of the vehicle. B. Enforcement of this section by law enforcement officers may be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a vehicle has been detained for a suspected violation of RCW Title 46, this title or some other offense. (RCW 46.37.680) (Ord. 122742, § 40, 2008.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT11VETR_SUBTITLE_ITRCO_PT8EQRE_CH11.84BRMIEQFetched: 11/1/2026