State Ex Rel. McDonald v. Whatcom County District Court

The sole issue on appeal is whether RCW 46.64.017 grants a law enforcement officer the authority to make an arrest at a place removed from the immediate scene of the accident. The statute provides in pertinent part as follows:

A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vehicle accident may arrest the driver of a motor vehicle involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed in connection with the accident a violation of the traffic laws or regulations.

The parties stipulated to the following facts on appeal: Trooper Ken…