OBSCENITY AND PORNOGRAPHY

RCW 9.68
in effect

RCW 9.68.015 Obscene literature, shows, etc. — Exemptions.

Nothing in chapter 260, Laws of 1959 shall apply to the circulation of any such material by any recognized historical society or museum, the state law library, any county law library, the state library, the public library, any library of any college or university, or to any archive or library under the supervision and control of the state, county, municipality, or other political subdivision. Nothing in chapter 260, Laws of 1959 shall apply to the circulation of any such material by any recognized historical society or museum, the state law library, any county law library, the state library, the public library, any library of any college or university, or to any archive or library under the supervision and control of the state, county, municipality, or other political subdivision.

RCW 9.68.030 Indecent articles, etc.

Every person who shall expose for sale, loan or distribution, any instrument or article, or any drug or medicine, for causing unlawful abortion; or shall write, print, distribute or exhibit any card, circular, pamphlet, advertisement or notice of any kind, stating when, where, how or of whom such article or medicine can be obtained, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Every person who shall expose for sale, loan or distribution, any instrument or article, or any drug or medicine, for causing unlawful abortion; or shall write, print, distribute or exhibit any card, circular, pamphlet, advertisement or notice of any kind, stating when, where, how or of whom such article or medicine can be obtained, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

RCW 9.68.050 "Erotic material" — Definitions.

For the purposes of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 : (1) "Minor" means any person under the age of eighteen years; (2) "Erotic material" means printed material, photographs, pictures, motion pictures, sound recordings, and other material the dominant theme of which taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest of minors in sex; which is patently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards relating to the description or representation of sexual matters or sado-masochistic abuse; and is utterly without redeeming social value; (3) "Person" means any individual, corporation, or other organization; (4) "Dealers", "distributors", and "exhibitors" mean persons engaged in the distribution, sale, or exhibition of printed material, photographs, pictures, motion pictures, or sound recordings. For the purposes of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 : (1) "Minor" means any person under the age of eighteen years; (2) "Erotic material" means printed material, photographs, pictures, motion pictures, sound recordings, and other material the dominant theme of which taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest of minors in sex; which is patently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards relating to the description or representation of sexual matters or sado-masochistic abuse; and is utterly without redeeming social value; (3) "Person" means any individual, corporation, or other organization; (4) "Dealers", "distributors", and "exhibitors" mean persons engaged in the distribution, sale, or exhibition of printed material, photographs, pictures, motion pictures, or sound recordings.

RCW 9.68.080 Unlawful acts.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any minor to misrepresent his or her true age or his or her true status as the child, stepchild, or ward of a person accompanying him or her, for the purpose of purchasing or obtaining access to any material described in RCW 9.68.050 . (2) It shall be unlawful for any person accompanying such minor to misrepresent his or her true status as parent, spouse of a parent, or guardian of any minor for the purpose of enabling such minor to purchase or obtain access to material described in RCW 9.68.050 . (1) It shall be unlawful for any minor to misrepresent his or her true age or his or her true status as the child, stepchild, or ward of a person accompanying him or her, for the purpose of purchasing or obtaining access to any material described in RCW 9.68.050 . (2) It shall be unlawful for any person accompanying such minor to misrepresent his or her true status as parent, spouse of a parent, or guardian of any minor for the purpose of enabling such minor to purchase or obtain access to material described in RCW 9.68.050 .

RCW 9.68.100 Exceptions to RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 .

Nothing in RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall apply to the circulation of any such material by any recognized historical society or museum, the state law library, any county law library, the state library, the public library, any library of any college or university, or to any archive or library under the supervision and control of the state, county, municipality, or other political subdivision. Nothing in RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall apply to the circulation of any such material by any recognized historical society or museum, the state law library, any county law library, the state library, the public library, any library of any college or university, or to any archive or library under the supervision and control of the state, county, municipality, or other political subdivision.

RCW 9.68.110 Motion picture operator or projectionist exempt, when.

The provisions of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall not apply to acts done in the scope of his or her employment by a motion picture operator or projectionist employed by the owner or manager of a theater or other place for the showing of motion pictures, unless the motion picture operator or projectionist has a financial interest in such theater or place wherein he or she is so employed or unless he or she caused to be performed or exhibited such performance or motion picture without the knowledge and consent of the manager or owner of the theater or other place of showing. The provisions of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall not apply to acts done in the scope of his or her employment by a motion picture operator or projectionist employed by the owner or manager of a theater or other place for the showing of motion pictures, unless the motion picture operator or projectionist has a financial interest in such theater or place wherein he or she is so employed or unless he or she caused to be performed or exhibited such performance or motion picture without the knowledge and consent of the manager or owner of the theater or other place of showing.

RCW 9.68.120 Provisions of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 exclusive.

The provisions of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall be exclusive. The provisions of RCW 9.68.050 through 9.68.120 shall be exclusive.

RCW 9.68.130 "Sexually explicit material" — Defined — Unlawful display.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawful display of sexually explicit material if he or she knowingly exhibits such material on a viewing screen so that the sexually explicit material is easily visible from a public thoroughfare, park or playground or from one or more family dwelling units. (2) "Sexually explicit material" as that term is used in this section means any pictorial material displaying direct physical stimulation of unclothed genitals, masturbation, sodomy (i.e. bestiality or oral or anal intercourse), flagellation or torture in the context of a sexual relationship, or emphasizing the depiction of adult human genitals: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That works of art or of anthropological significance shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing definition. (3) Any person who violates subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (1) A person is guilty of unlawful display of sexually explicit material if he or she knowingly exhibits such material on a viewing screen so that the sexually explicit material is easily visible from a public thoroughfare, park or playground or from one or more family dwelling units. (2) "Sexually explicit material" as that term is used in this section means any pictorial material displaying direct physical stimulation of unclothed genitals, masturbation, sodomy (i.e. bestiality or oral or anal intercourse), flagellation or torture in the context of a sexual relationship, or emphasizing the depiction of adult human genitals: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That works of art or of anthropological significance shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing definition. (3) Any person who violates subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

RCW 9.68.140 Promoting pornography — Class C felony — Penalties.

A person who, for profit-making purposes and with knowledge, sells, exhibits, displays, or produces any lewd matter as defined in RCW 7.48A.010 is guilty of promoting pornography. Promoting pornography is a class C felony and shall bear the punishment and fines prescribed for that class of felony. In imposing the criminal penalty, the court shall consider the wilfulness of the defendant's conduct and the profits made by the defendant attributable to the felony. All fines assessed under this chapter shall be paid into the general treasury of the state. A person who, for profit-making purposes and with knowledge, sells, exhibits, displays, or produces any lewd matter as defined in RCW 7.48A.010 is guilty of promoting pornography. Promoting pornography is a class C felony and shall bear the punishment and fines prescribed for that class of felony. In imposing the criminal penalty, the court shall consider the wilfulness of the defendant's conduct and the profits made by the defendant attributable to the felony. All fines assessed under this chapter shall be paid into the general treasury of the state.

RCW 9.68.900 Construction — Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships — 2009 c 521.

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=9.68&full=trueFetched: 6/28/2026