Bicycle DUI Laws in Washington
Last reviewed by BikeSize EditorialThis guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. Read full disclaimer.
The rule
Washington prosecutes cycling under the influence under a separate, bicycle-specific statute rather than the standard motor-vehicle DUI law. Washington courts have held that the standard DUI statute (RCW 46.61.502) does not apply to bicyclists. Instead, RCW 46.61.790 sets out a non-criminal protocol: an officer encountering an apparently intoxicated rider may offer transportation home or to a treatment facility and must take reasonable steps to safeguard the bicycle. There is no driver-licence consequence under this protocol. See RCW 46.61.790 (Intoxicated bicyclists).
Statute
What this means in practice
A DUI charge isn't on the table for cyclists in Washington, but that's not a license to ride drunk — public-intoxication, reckless-conduct, and disorderly-conduct charges can still apply, and cycling impaired dramatically raises crash risk.
Ride sharp, ride legal
Run a 60-second pre-ride safety check
DUI, impairment, and distraction laws all assume you are riding a bike that is actually safe to ride. The M-check takes a minute and catches the things that get you hurt.
See the M-check guide