WA SB5521

Peace officers may only stop vehicles as a primary offense for criminal violations, moving violations, safety belt violations, missing/mismatched plates, registration expired over 12 months, or equipment issues presenting serious safety risks; nonmoving violations become secondary offenses only

Officers must immediately inform drivers of the stop reason, may not question beyond the initial scope without reasonable suspicion, and must obtain written consent in English and Spanish (or other prevalent language) before conducting consent searches for gross misdemeanors or felonies

Evidence recovered during non-compliant stops is inadmissible in criminal proceedings; beginning January 1, 2026, officers must report detailed data on each stop including reason, duration, perceived demographics, consent search requests, and outcomes

Creates a grant program administered by the Department of Transportation for nonpunitive intervention programs to help low-income road users address nonmoving violations through helmet vouchers, registration fee offsets, fix-it tickets, repair vouchers, and community education

Officers may mail warnings for nonmoving violations to registered vehicle owners without stopping the vehicle when the infraction is witnessed in person