Washington § 26.44.250 - Arrest upon drug or alcohol-related driving offense — Child protective services notified if child is present and operator is a parent, guardian, or custodian.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 26.44.250 — Arrest upon drug or alcohol-related driving offense — Child protective services notified if child is present and operator is a parent, guardian, or custodian., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 26.44.250. Arrest upon drug or alcohol-related driving offense — Child protective services notified if child is present and operator is a parent, guardian, or custodian.

A law enforcement officer shall promptly notify child protective services whenever a child is present in a vehicle being driven by his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian and that person is being arrested for a drug or alcohol-related driving offense. This section does not require law enforcement to take custody of the child unless there is no other responsible person, or an agency having the right to physical custody of the child that can be contacted, or the officer has reasonable grounds to believe the child should be taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.050 or 26.44.050. For purposes of this section, "child" means any person under thirteen years of age.
[ 2010 c 214 s 2.]

Notes

Reviser's note: The same language was codified under RCW 46.61.507 pursuant to 2010 c 214 s 1. However, RCW 46.61.507 was further amended by 2012 c 42 s 1 without amendment to this section.

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 26.44.250

What does Revised Code of Washington § 26.44.250 cover?

Section 26.44.250 ("Arrest upon drug or alcohol-related driving offense — Child protective services notified if child is present and operator is a parent, guardian, or custodian.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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A common citation format is "Revised Code of Washington § 26.44.250" (Washington). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Washington law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Washington official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Washington attorney.

How does Washington § 26.44.250 apply to my situation?

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