Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGO 1958 NO. 158 >

Cities and towns, by local ordinance, cannot permit free right turns against a signal device exhibiting a red light by use of a sign reading "stop on red then right turn permitted."

AGO 1958 NO. 163 >

Counties may convey rights of access through property acquired through tax foreclosure to the state for limited access highway facilities.

AGO 1958 NO. 166 >

Recording of satisfaction of a mortgage by the state of Washington does not require payment of county filing fee.

AGO 1953 NO. 187 >

RCW 47.24.020 (Chapter 220, Sec. 5, Laws of 1949 as last amended by Chapter 193, Laws of 1953) provides for illumination to be furnished by cities and towns and in cities over 15,000 population for the installation, operation, maintenance, and control of traffic and signals.  The method of control of access has no bearing on cities' responsibility.

AGO 1958 NO. 195 >

1.  A portion of state highway abandoned by the state of Washington and certified to a county must be maintained by the county.   2.  The county commissioners are authorized to exercise discretion in determining whether or not any particular road can be kept free of snow all winter.

AGO 1958 NO. 199 >

1.  State highway right of ways are subject to taxes or assessments levied by weed districts to be paid by legislative appropriation from the state general fund.   2.  Railroad right of ways are subject to taxes and assessments levied by weed districts based upon the value of the benefits to such property or upon the cost to the district of destroying weeds thereon when the railroad fails to do so.

AGO 1954 NO. 202 >

A legislative act authorizing a highway in the vicinity of a township line is directional only, and construction in the general vicinity of the legislative designation would be legal.

AGO 1958 NO. 221 >

Moneys within the state patrol highway account in the motor vehicle fund and in the highway safety fund may be used for purposes of capital outlay if such expenditures are necessary for policing the public highways by the state patrol.

AGO 1954 NO. 271 >

A county has authority to post signs at cattle crossings, but is not liable for failure to continuously maintain them.

AGO 1952 NO. 417 >

Purchase of ferries and leasing of ferry terminals changes status of ferry slips and dock area approaches from private to public highways.