You can view it that way, but the law does not. Assault requires a believable threat to cause physical harm. The street racer did not threaten the Tesla driver. There was no battery, either, as battery is the actual physical harm, but also requires intent. It's negligent driving, and probably some other charges. But not assault or battery.
Then as many of these as possible and the addition of monthly high risk insurance,
which on average in Washington State is $2122 per month. In our state
anything 20 MPH over the speed limit is automatic reckless driving and a 4 day stay in jail and additionally combination of several of these charges give the officer arrest authority.
Reckless driving—Penalty.
(1)
Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving. Violation of the provisions of this section is a gross misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to three hundred sixty-four days and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.
Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person:
(a) RCW
46.52.010, relating to duty on striking an unattended car or other property;
(b)
RCW 46.52.020, relating to duty in case of injury to or death of a person or damage to an attended vehicle;
(c)
RCW 46.61.500 or 46.61.530, relating to reckless driving or racing of vehicles;
(d) RCW
46.61.502 or
46.61.504, relating to persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
(e) RCW
46.61.503 or
46.25.110, relating to persons having alcohol or THC in their system;
(f) RCW
46.20.342, relating to driving a motor vehicle while operator's license is suspended or revoked;
(g)
RCW 46.61.5249, relating to operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.
(1)
Driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug as defined by RCW 46.61.502;
(2) Physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, as defined by RCW
46.61.504;
(3) Vehicular homicide, as defined by RCW
46.61.520;
(4)
Vehicular assault, as defined by RCW 46.61.522;
(5)
Reckless driving, as defined by RCW 46.61.500;
(6)
Racing, as defined by RCW 46.61.530;
(7) Embracing, as defined by RCW
46.61.665;
(8)
Hit and run (injury, death, striking the body of a deceased person,
or occupied vehicle), as defined by RCW 46.52.020;
(9)
Attempting to elude a police vehicle, as defined by RCW 46.61.024;
(10) Driving while driving privilege suspended or revoked, as defined by RCW
46.20.342,
46.20.345, or
46.20.394;
(11)
Reckless endangerment of roadway workers, as defined in RCW 46.61.527;
(12) Driver under twenty-one driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol or marijuana, as defined in RCW
46.61.503;
(13) Driving or in physical control of commercial motor vehicle while having alcohol in system, as defined in RCW
46.25.110;
(14) Open container violation (driver), as defined by RCW
46.61.519 or
46.61.745;
(15)
Negligent driving in the first degree, as defined by RCW 46.61.5249;
(16)
Negligent driving in the second degree, as defined by RCW 46.61.525 or
46.61.526;
(17) Hit and run (unattended vehicle or property), as defined by RCW
46.52.010;
(18)
Disobey road sign, as defined by RCW 46.61.050,
46.61.070, or
46.61.450;
(19) Disobey signalman, officer, or firefighter, as defined by RCW
46.61.015,
46.61.020,
46.61.021, or
46.61.022;
(20) Disobey school patrol, as defined by RCW
46.61.385;
(21)
Speed too fast for conditions, as defined by RCW 46.61.400;
(22)
Speed in excess of maximum limit, as defined by RCW 46.61.400 or
46.61.460;
(23) Speeding in a school zone, as defined by RCW
46.61.440;
(24) Failure to stop, as defined by RCW
46.61.055,
46.61.065,
46.61.195,
46.61.200,
46.61.340,
46.61.345,
46.61.350,
46.61.365,
46.61.370, or
46.61.375;
(25) Failure to yield right of way, as defined by RCW
46.61.180,
46.61.183,
46.61.185,
46.61.190,
46.61.202,
46.61.205,
46.61.210,
46.61.212,
46.61.215,
46.61.220,
46.61.235,
46.61.245,
46.61.261,
46.61.300, or
46.61.427;
(26) Failure to keep to the right, as defined by RCW
46.61.100 or
46.61.105;
(27) Wrong way on a one-way street or rotary traffic island, as defined by RCW
46.61.135;
(28)
Improper lane change or travel, as defined by RCW 46.61.140;
(29) Straddling or driving over centerline, as defined by RCW
46.61.140;
(30) Driving on the wrong side of the road, as defined by RCW
46.61.150;
(31) Crossing divider, as defined by RCW
46.61.150;
(32) Improper entrance to or exit from freeway, as defined by RCW
46.61.155;
(33) Violating restrictions on a limited access highway while driving a motor vehicle, as defined by RCW
46.61.160;
(34) High occupancy vehicle lane violation, as defined by RCW
46.61.165;
(35)
Improper overtaking or passing, as defined by RCW 46.61.110,
46.61.115,
46.61.120,
46.61.125,
46.61.130, or
46.61.428;
(36) Passing stopped school bus, as defined by RCW
46.61.370;
(37) Passing stopped private carrier bus, as defined by RCW
46.61.375;
(38)
Following too closely, as defined by RCW 46.61.145;
(39) Following fire apparatus, as defined by RCW
46.61.635;
(40) Crossing fire hose, as defined by RCW
46.61.640;
(41) Driving on sidewalk, as defined by RCW
46.61.606;
(42) Driving through safety zone, as defined by RCW
46.61.260;
(43) Driving with wheels off roadway, as defined by RCW
46.61.670;
(44) Impeding traffic, as defined by RCW
46.61.100,
46.61.425, or
46.20.427;
(45) Improper turn, as defined by RCW
46.61.290;
(46) Prohibited turn, as defined by RCW
46.61.295;
(47) Failure to signal or improper signal, as defined by RCW
46.61.305,
46.61.310, or
46.61.315;
(48) Improper backing, as defined by RCW
46.61.605;
(49) Unlawful operation of motorcycle on roadway, as defined by RCW
46.61.608,
46.61.612, or
46.61.614;
(50)
Reckless endangerment, as defined by RCW 9A.36.050;
(51)
Failure to maintain control, as defined by RCW 46.61.445;
(52) Violation of license restriction(s), as defined by RCW
46.20.041 or
46.20.740;
(53) Violation of instruction permit restrictions, as defined by RCW
46.20.055;
(54) Violation of out-of-service order, as defined by RCW
46.25.090;
(55) Obstructed vision or control, as defined by RCW
46.61.615;
(56) Carrying persons or animals outside of vehicle, as defined by RCW
46.61.660;
(57) Carrying passenger in towed vehicle, as defined by RCW
46.61.625;
(58) Coasting on downgrade, as defined by RCW
46.61.630;
(59) Violation of child restraint requirements, as defined by RCW
46.61.687;
(60) Carrying child under the age of five years old on motorcycle, as defined by RCW
46.37.530;
(61) Carrying passenger improperly on motorcycle, as defined by RCW
46.61.610;
(62) No helmet, goggles, mirrors, windshield or face shield, as defined by RCW
46.37.530;
(63) Operating moped on freeway or sidewalk, as defined by RCW
46.61.710;
(64) Driving without lights, as defined by RCW
46.37.020;
(65) Failure to dim lights, as defined by RCW
46.37.230;
(66) Operating motorcycle without lights, as defined by RCW
46.37.522;
(67) No lamp, reflector, or flag on extended load, as defined by RCW
46.37.140;
(68) Wearing earphones or viewing television in vehicle, as defined by RCW
46.37.480;
(69) Failure to secure load, as defined by RCW
46.37.490;
(70) Spilling load, as defined by RCW
46.61.655;
(71) Improper towing, as defined by RCW
46.44.070;
(72) Using a personal electronic device while driving, as defined by RCW
46.61.672;
(73) Dangerously distracted driving, as defined by RCW
46.61.673;
(74) Using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving, as defined by RCW
46.61.667 (1)(b) (repealed by 2017 c 334 § 2); and
(75) Texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle, as defined by RCW
46.61.668 (1)(b) (repealed by 2017 c 334 § 2).
IRLJ 6.2
MONETARY PENALTY SCHEDULE FOR INFRACTIONS
(a) Effect of Schedule. The penalty for any infraction listed in this rule may not be changed by local court rule. The court may impose on a defendant a lesser penalty in an individual case. Provided that, whenever the base penalty plus statutory assessments results in a total payment that is not an even dollar amount, the base penalty is deemed to be amended to a higher amount which produces the next greatest even dollar total.
(b) Unscheduled Infractions. The penalty for any infraction not listed in this rule shall be $42, not including statutory assessments. A court may, by local court rule, provide for a different penalty.
(c) Infractions Not Covered. This schedule does not apply to penalties for parking, standing, stopping, or pedestrian infractions established by municipal or county statute. Penalties for those infractions are established by statute or local court rule, but shall be consistent with the philosophy of these rules.
(d) Penalty Schedule. The following infractions shall have the penalty listed, not including statutory assessments.
NOTE:
These are ONLY the base statutory penalties. They DO NOT include court costs or county fees, which are frequently imposed depending on the jurisdiction in which your infraction was issued. As a result, the total costs to you will often be significantly higher than the base penalties listed below if you are found to have committed the infraction.
Base Penalty
(1) Traffic Infractions
Second Degree Negligent Driving
$250
Wrong way on freeway (RCW 46.61.150)
$182
Wrong way on freeway access (RCW 46.61.155)
$87
Backing on limited access highway (RCW 46.61.605)
$87
Spilling or failure to secure load (RCW 46.61.655)
$87
Throwing or depositing debris on highway (RCW 46.61.645)
$87
Disobeying school patrol (RCW 46.61.385)
$87
Passing stopped school bus (with red lights flashing)
(RCW 46.61.370)
$87
Violation of posted road restriction (RCW 46.44.080;
RCW 46.44.105(4))
$182
Switching license plates, loan of license or use of another's
(RCW 46.16.240)
$87
Altering or using altered license plates (RCW 46.16.240)
$87
Operator's Licenses (RCW 46.20)
No Valid Driver's License (With Identification)
$250
All other RCW 46.20 infractions
$42
Vehicle Licenses (RCW 46.16)
Expired Vehicle License (RCW 46.16.010)
Two months or less
$42
Over 2 months
$87
Speeding (RCW 46.61.400) if speed limit is over 40 m.p.h.
1-5 m.p.h. over limit
$27
6-10 m.p.h. over limit
$37
11-15 m.p.h. over limit
$52
16-20 m.p.h. over limit
$67
21-25 m.p.h. over limit
$82
26-30 m.p.h. over limit
$102
31-35 m.p.h. over limit
$127
36-40 m.p.h. over limit
$152
Over 40 m.p.h. over limit
$182
Speeding if speed limit is 40 m.p.h. or less
1-5 m.p.h. over limit
$37
6-10 m.p.h. over limit
$42
11-15 m.p.h. over limit
$57
16-20 m.p.h. over limit
$77
21-25 m.p.h. over limit
$102
26-30 m.p.h. over limit
$127
31-35 m.p.h. over limit
$152
Over 35 m.p.h. over limit
$182
Speed Too Fast for Conditions (RCW 46.61.400(1))
$42
Rules of the Road
Failure to stop (RCW 46.61.050.)
$42
Failure to stop on approach of emergency vehicle (RCW 46.61.210)
$500
Failure to yield the right of way
(RCW 46.61.180, 185, .190, .205, .235, .300, .365)
$42
Failure to yield the right of way on approach of emergency vehicle (RCW 46.61.210)
$500
Following too close (RCW 46.61.145, .635)
$42
Failure to signal (RCW 46.61.310)
$42
Improper lane usage or travel (RCW 46.61.140)
$42
Impeding traffic (RCW 46.61.425)
$42
Improper passing (RCW 46.61.110, .115, .120, .125, .130)
$42
Prohibited and improper turn (RCW 46.61.290, .295, .305)
$42
Crossing double yellow line left of center line
(RCW 46.61.100, .130, .140)
$42
Operating with obstructed vision (RCW 46.61.615)
$42
Wrong way on one-way street (RCW 46.61.135)
$42
Failure to comply with restrictive signs (RCW 46.61.050)
$42
Accidenta
If an accident occurs in conjunction with any of the listed rules-of-the-road infractions or speed too fast for conditions, the penalty for the infraction shall be:
$67
Equipment (RCW 46.37)
Illegal use of emergency equipment (RCW 46.37.190)
$87
Defective or modified exhaust systems, mufflers, prevention
of noise and smoke (RCW 46.37.390(1) and (3))
First offense (the penalty may be waived upon proof to the court of
compliance)
$47
Second offense within 1 year of first offense
$67
Third and subsequent offenses within 1 year of first offense
$87
Any other equipment infraction (RCW 46.37.010)
$42
Motorcycles
Any infraction relating specifically to motorcycles
(including no valid endorsement, RCW 46.20.500)
$42
Parking
Illegal parking on roadway (RCW 46.61.560)
$30
Any other parking infraction (not defined by city or
county ordinance)
$20
Pedestrians
Any infraction regarding pedestrians (not defined by city
or county ordinance)
$27
Bicycles
Any infraction regarding bicycles
$32
Load Violations
(all under RCW 46.44, except over license capacity)
(see RCW 46.16)
Over legal--tires, wheelbase (RCW 46.44.105(1))
(First offense)
$72
(Second offense)
$102
(Third offense)
$117
In addition to the above (RCW 46.44.105(2))
3 cents per excess pound
Over license capacity (RCW 46.16.145)
(First offense)
$57
(Second offense)
$102
(Third offense)
$117
Violation of special permit
$67
Failure to obtain special permit
$67
Failure to submit to being weighed
$67
Illegal vehicle combination (RCW 46.44.036)
$67
Illegally transporting mobile home
$72
Any other infraction defined in RCW 46.44
$52
