In Washington State, a person comitts the crime of Unlawful Issuance of a Bank Check (UIBC) when with intent to defraud, he/she issues a check for the payment of money knowing at the time that there are insufficient funds or credit to cover the check. RCW 9A.56.0A.
A person also comitts the crime of UIBC if, with intent to defraud, he/she issues a check and orders a stop-payment request directing the bank not to honor such a check and fails to otherwise arrange payment within 20 days. RCW 9A.56.060(2).
Penalties
Unlawful Issuance of a Bank Check in the amount of over $750 is a class C Felony, punishable by up to a maximum of 5 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. In practice, the penalties that would be imposed in the event of a conviction for a UIBC crime are determined by the Sentencing Reform Act, RCW 9.94A and the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines.
Unlawful Issuance of a Bank Check in the in an amount under $750 is a gross misdemeanor and is punishable by a maximum of 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. RCW 9.92.020.
If a person writes a series of bad checks in the course of a common scheme or plan, the value will be combined to determine if the crime exceeds $750 and will be charged as a felony. RCW 9A.56.060(3).
