FindLaw | Find a Lawyer. Find Answers.
Are you a legal Professional?
My current location:
,
| Change location
Washington Identity Theft Laws
More Information on Identity Theft Laws
| Code Section | Wash. Rev. Code §§9.35.001 (1999) et seq. |
| Classification of Crime/Penalties | If loss is less than $1,500 ("identity theft in second degree"): class C felony; if loss is greater than $1,500 ("identity theft in the first degree"): class B felony Perpetrator is liable for the greater of $500 or actual damages, and for reasonable attorney fees |
| Who May Prosecute | Any prosecuting authority |
| Exemptions to Identity Theft Laws | Criminal statute does not apply to: (1) efforts by financial institutions to test security procedures or to maintain confidentiality of customer information, (2) investigations of employee misconduct or negligence, or (3) efforts to recover personal information of the financial institution obtained by another person in any manner described in (1) or (2) above; Criminal statute does not apply to minors seeking to obtain privileges denied to minors |
| Civil Lawsuit Allowed? | Civil action allowed |
| Civil Remedies Available | Civil damages equal to the greater of $500 or actual damages, including costs to repair victim's credit record and reasonable attorney fees |
| Misc. | Any person or entity with whom the perpetrator undertook a transaction in the victim's name must provide the victim with all relevant information upon request; Violation of identity theft laws will be an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce and an unfair method of competition for purposes of the consumer protection act |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law:
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
Related Resources for Identity Theft Laws: