The legal code 517 is ambiguous since it doesn’t really address the issue. What’s the law?
I assume this is what you’re looking at?
RCW 46.37.517
Body and body hardware.
(1) The body, fenders, and bumpers shall be maintained without protrusions which could be hazardous to pedestrians. In addition, the bumpers shall be so attached and maintained so as to not protrude beyond the original bumper line.
(2) The hood, hood latches, hood fastenings,
doors, and door latches shall be maintained in a condition sufficient to ensure proper working equal to that at the time of original vehicle manufacture.
Does seem ambiguous, it could be read to mean that you must maintain your doors in working order
on the vehicle as they were when new OR that you simply maintain them in good working order leaning up against the wall in your garage, should you decide to put them on at some point.
Found this online:
https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article159288419.html
“We put the question to Sgt. James Prouty of the Washington State Patrol.
Prouty pointed us to
RCW 46.37.517, titled, “Body and body hardware.”
Subsection (2) reads:
“The hood, hood latches, hood fastenings, doors and door latches shall be maintained in a condition sufficient to ensure proper working equal to that at the time of original vehicle manufacture.”
We are easily confused by legislative language, so we asked Prouty for an interpretation.
“To summarize, if your vehicle was manufactured with doors, then it is required to have doors,” he said.
Even Jeeps?
“Yes, sir. When they are operating the vehicle on public roadways, per the RCW, they are required to have doors,” Prouty said.”
It’s funny, this issue comes up often with reference to PA’s rule. I think ours is less ambiguous but still some law enforcement officers have differing opinions about it. In the absence of some concrete answer, I’d simply adopt the protocol of the locals, if they’re all running around doorless as they are here, do the same if you want