← Washington firearms laws›Duty to Inform Police

Washington Duty to Inform Police Laws (2026)

Conditional: Washington has no proactive duty to volunteer that you are armed, but every concealed-pistol licensee must have the Concealed Pistol License (CPL) in immediate possession while carrying concealed and must display it to any police officer who demands it (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)); violation is a class 1 civil infraction, not a crime.

ConditionalVerified Jul 18, 2026

Washington has no proactive duty to volunteer that you are armed, but every concealed-pistol licensee must have the Concealed Pistol License (CPL) in immediate possession while carrying concealed and must display it to any police officer who demands it (RCW 9.41.050(1)(b)); violation is a class 1 civil infraction, not a crime.

Official source: app.leg.wa.gov →

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