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RESEARCH TOOLS › MRSC INQUIRIES › Public Safety
Reviewed 06/02

MRSC Inquiries

Public Safety

Contents:

Community Relations

  1. Request for information on citizen police academies.

    Citizen police academy programs are intended to open the lines of communication between the community and the Police Department. This concept, which was developed in England in 1977, spread throughout the U.S. during the 1980s. Many police departments from cities and towns of all sizes have instituted citizen police academies. The intent of the these programs is not to train citizens to become police officers, but rather to provide an opportunity to see first-hand the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement personnel. The overriding goal is to enhance the relationship between the police department and the community, resulting in a clearer understanding of what the community can expect from the officers who serve them and what the officers can provide for those who support them. Many of the application forms include a release of liability.

    The following is a Web link to a MRSC page on Citizen Police Academies.

Crime Prevention

  1. How do Washington cities deal with the problem of graffiti on public and private property?

    We understand that both SeaTac and Everett have adopted CPTED guidelines. Both Tukwila and SeaTac have established a crime-free multifamily housing network for building owners and managers. Other cities in Washington that have been considering CPTED principles include Bellingham, Spokane, Tacoma, and Snohomish. See the following Web resources and MRSC library material on this subject:

    Web Resources

    MRSC Library Material

    The following items are available for loan to Washington city and county officials from MRSC's library (use our online library request form or call the library at 206-625-1300):

    • "Planning for Prevention: Sarasota, Florida's Approach to Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design," by Sherry Plaster and Stan Carter, Programs and Research in Criminal Justice, 1993.
    • SeaTac Resolution No. 99-001 and SeaTac Ordinance No. 00-1002 (see attached ch. 15.19 - Interim Design Standards for Multi-Family Housing, especially secs. 15.91.160 and 15.19.250)
    • Everett Zoning Code, sec. 15.030 - Designing for Safety
    • Sarasota, FL, Ordinance No. 92-3562
    • "Building Crime Prevention Into Land Use Codes," by John L. Gann, Jr., Urban Land, February 1997
    • "Understanding 'CPTED'," by Timothy Crowe, and "Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design," by Sherry Plaster Carter and Stanley L. Carter, Planning Commissioners Journal, Fall 1994
    • "Creating Safer, More Livable Communities Through Planning and Design," by Art Zelinka, Dean Brennan and Margot Fehrenbacher, Revolutionary Ideas in Planning: Proceedings of the 1998 National Planning Conference, APA
    • Excerpts from Design Guidelines regarding safety from the following communities: Edgewood, Ellensburg, Seattle, Stanwood, and Tukwila Renton Municipal Code, 4-9-1501 (I)(6)(i)
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Crimes/Offenses

  1. Is it a crime to threaten a city or county employee?

    Yes. RCW 9A.76.180 makes it a class B felony to intimidate a public servant by use of a threat. "Threat" as used in this section means "(a) to communicate, directly or indirectly, the intent immediately to use force against any person who is present at the time; or (b) threats as defined in RCW 9A.04.110(25)." The definition of "threat" found in RCW 9A.04.110 is actually listed under subsection (26) and contains a detailed list of actions that would also constitute an illegal "threat" against a public servant.

  2. How do Washington cities deal with the problem of graffiti on public and private property?

    There appear to be two basic approaches taken by Washington cities to regulate and control graffiti. One approach is aimed at the "graffiti artists" or "taggers" and makes it a crime to damage or deface public or private property. Of course, to be effective this approach requires that police officers must actually catch a tagger in the act. These types of ordinances have been on the books for a long time and, while necessary to have in place, they have not proven to be particularly effective at deterring many graffiti artists.

    A new approach being tried by some cities is aimed at getting the graffiti removed as soon as possible, the theory being that quick removal will deny the graffiti artists any time to admire their work and therefore remove, or at least reduce, their incentive to do it in the first place. On public property this means some sort of active monitoring program and the use of either city crews or volunteers to wash walls and paint over the graffiti. This may work fine on public property but how do you deal with graffiti on private property? The answer to that in some cities has been to regulate it as a public nuisance and to require removal by the property owner.

    Other Strategies

    Redmond's innovative approach involves the construction of a legal graffiti wall where taggers are invited to do their thing on a designated display wall, the hope being that they will be less inclined to paint somewhere else.

    Pasco has a particularly effective graffiti abatement program which involves the enlistment of juvenile offenders doing community service work to remove graffiti within 48 hours.

    Some cities in other states have gone so far as to prohibit the sale of spray paint to minors in an attempt to cut off the supply of paint to the graffiti artists.

    St. Paul, Minnesota has found a way to use the Internet to help control graffiti. Their Web site has a place for citizens to report graffiti on public or private property.

    WWW Links

    Check out this Anti-Graffiti Web site (http://www.dougweb.com/pgraf.html) for a comprehensive collection of links (http://www.dougweb.com/grlinks.html) related to graffiti abatement, removal, and anti-graffiti neighborhood activities.

    Sample ordinances

    The following are examples of provisions that make it a misdemeanor to deface, damage or destroy property of another:

    • Seattle Ordinance No. 118106
    • Sec. 10A.48.090, Bellevue Municipal Code

    The following city ordinances or code sections are examples which address the problem of graffiti as a public nuisance and require clean up or removal by property owners:

    • Seattle Ordinance No. 118082
    • Ch. 7.35, SeaTac Municipal Code

    You should review these sample ordinances with your city attorney to evaluate the appropriateness for use by your city and for consistency with state law.

    Statutes:

    In 1996, the State Legislature amended certain state law provisions to increase the penalties for placing graffiti on the property of another person (Chapter 35, Laws of 1996, codified at RCW 9A.48.090, making acts of graffiti malicious mischief in the third degree). The 1996 legislation also imposed financial responsibility on the parents of minors involved in acts of graffiti in some circumstances (Chapter 35, Laws of 1996, codified at RCW 4.24.190).

    Additional Resources:

    The Municipal Research and Services Center has a significant collection of materials on graffiti abatement and control that discuss a variety of options and programs in addition to police power regulations imposing criminal or civil penalties. Items available on loan include a publication by the National League of Cities (NLC) , Volume 5, No. 3 of the Issues and Options Series titled, "Graffiti Abatement: Programs That Work," dated April, 1997 and more information on the City of Pasco's Graffiti Abatement Program. These materials can be requested by Washington city, town, and county officials and employees by contacting the MRSC's Library staff.

  3. Can Ch. 133, Laws of 1998, making it a civil infraction for minors to possess cigarettes, be enforced in municipal court without a city adopting the statute by reference?

    The 1998 legislature, in Chapter 133, amended RCW 70.155.080 to make the possession of cigarettes by a person under the age of eighteen a civil infraction. This statute now reads:


      (1) A person under the age of eighteen who purchases or attempts to purchase, possesses, or obtains or attempts to obtain cigarettes or tobacco products commits a class 3 civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW and is subject to a fine as set out in chapter 7.80 RCW or participation in up to four hours of community service, or both. The court may also require participation in a smoking cessation program. This provision does not apply if a person under the age of eighteen, with parental authorization, is participating in a controlled purchase as part of a liquor control board, law enforcement, or local health department activity.
      (2) Municipal and district courts within the state have jurisdiction for enforcement of this section.

    The caller asked if, in our opinion, a city would need to adopt this statute by reference to be able to enforce it in municipal court, given the language in subsection (2).

    In our opinion, a city does not need to adopt the statute by reference, because the statute itself, without more, gives cities the authority to enforce it in municipal court. The very purpose of adoption by reference is to give a city the authority to enforce a statute in municipal court. Since this statute expressly gives municipal courts that authority, adoption by reference is unnecessary. Although the language in subsection (2) was added because the statute deals with juveniles, over whom a municipal court does not generally have jurisdiction, this should not affect enforcement authority without an adopting ordinance.

  4. May a city define a statutorily-established crime as a civil infraction?

    No. State law specifically provides that "no act that is a state crime may be made a civil violation." In addition, the punishment for violation of any criminal ordinance must be the same as the punishment provided by state law for the same crime. RCW 35.21.163.

  5. What is the new state law which prohibits interference with access to health care and abortion facilities?

    Chapter 9A.50 RCW imposes criminal and civil sanctions for certain activities that interfere with access to a health care facility or that disrupt the normal functioning of the facility. Prohibited activities include reckless interference or disruption by: (1) physically obstructing or impeding access; (2) making noise that unreasonably disturbs; (3) trespassing; (4) telephoning the facility repeatedly; or (5) threatening injury to persons or property. An exception from these prohibitions is provided for "lawful picketing or other publicity for the purpose of providing the public with information."

  6. May a city or town make it a criminal or civil offense under local ordinance to be drunk in public?

    No. Such a local enactment is prohibited by RCW 70.96A.190. However, this statute does not affect the enforceability of a local rule or ordinance against drunken driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or other similar offense.

  7. Can cities regulate or restrict the sale or use of laser pointers?

    The Washington legislature enacted Ch. 9A.49  (Ch 180 Laws of 1999) relating to the unlawful discharge of lasers.  The legislation creates the crimes of unlawful discharge of a laser in the first and second degree when a person knowingly and maliciously discharges a laser at law enforcement personnel, pilots, fire personnel, or persons operating buses. It also makes these crimes a civil infraction for juveniles who have never before committed either offense. The decision of whether or not to regulate the use of laser pointers is a local policy decision. Some cities in the United States have recently passed ordinances prohibiting the use of laser pointers in certain ways.

    There are documented health concerns (young children staring into them and causing retinal damage) and public safety concerns (the point of laser light is apparently identical to the point of light emitted by a laser sight used on some sophisticated guns). The use of laser pointers has apparently also caused nuisance problems at sporting events and concerts.

    Any regulation or prohibition adopted by a city should be commensurate with the risk posed by laser pointers. A city would need extensive factual justification before attempting to restrict the sale of laser pointers.

    MRSC has collected recent articles and sample ordinances concerning this new issue.  See Web page Dangerous Activities or Conditions - Lasers.

  8. Do counties have the authority to establish crimes with penalties for acts that are not criminal under state law?

    Yes, but only misdemeanor crimes. The statutory authority is RCW 36.32.120(7), which provides that the legislative authorities of the several counties shall:

Make and enforce, by appropriate resolutions or ordinances, all such police and sanitary regulations as are not in conflict with state law, and within the unincorporated area of the county may adopt by reference Washington state statutes and recognized codes and/or compilations printed in book form relating to the construction of buildings, the installation of plumbing, the installation of electric wiring, health, or other subjects, and may adopt such codes and/or compilations or portions thereof, together with amendments thereto, or additions thereto . . . Any violation of such regulations, ordinances, codes, compilations, and/or statutes or resolutions shall constitute a misdemeanor or a civil violation subject to a monetary penalty.

In AGO 1982 No. 9, the attorney general’s office concluded that this language meant that counties were limited to establishing misdemeanor crimes: "counties may not establish, or create, a gross misdemeanor since, by virtue of RCW 36.32.120(7), any violation of a county criminal ordinance is an ordinary misdemeanor only."




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Criminal Justice/Courts

  1. Did the legislature recently amend the statutes requiring cities to reimburse counties for criminal justice costs?

    Yes. Ch. 39.34 was amended by ESSB 6211, Ch. 308, Laws of 1996, and becomes effective January 1, 1997. Every city or town is responsible for the costs associated with prosecution, adjudication, sentencing and incarceration of persons charged with committing misdemeanors within their jurisdiction. The new legislation sets out the principles which must be followed when negotiating with counties for sharing criminal justice responsibilities and costs. Binding arbitration can be required by either a city or a county when no agreement can be reached.

  2. May the city require prisoners being held for misdemeanor offenses to work in community service or a day work crew?

    Yes, there are several statutes that authorize this. RCW 9.92.130 provides that city jail prisoners who have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment in a city jail may be compelled to perform day labor on city streets, public buildings, or grounds of the city. Also, RCW 70.48.210(3) provides that a city or county may establish a work release program for prisoners in the program. A person sentenced to a city o county jail is eligible for the program. There are some conditions in the program in the statute.

    Also, some related statutes are RCW 51.12.045, which provides that inmate workers who are performing court-ordered community services are eligible for workmen's compensation. RCW 35A.21.220 provides authority for code cities to purchase liability insurance against liability for the wrongful acts of offenders for injury or damage incurred by offenders in work release programs. Finally, RCW 49.46.010(5)(k) provides that inmates are exempt from state minimum wage law.

    There are a number of cities and counties that have established work release or community service programs.   See MRSC Web Page on Alternatives to Incarceration

  3. May the city prosecute under state law when the county has refused to do so?

    No, the city cannot prosecute a violation of state law. By statute, the county prosecuting attorney prosecutes all criminal actions in which the state is a party. RCW 36.27.020(4). (The city attorney, on the other hand, prosecutes all actions in which the city is a party.)

    A city police officer may arrest and is often allowed to directly cite a person for violating state law, but the decision whether to proceed with prosecution is given exclusively to the county prosecutor.

    If for some reason a prosecutor declines to prosecute a particular criminal act, the city could in most instances adopt the state criminal statute by ordinance, and thereafter the decision to prosecute would rest with the city attorney (for all offenses committed after adoption of the city ordinance).

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Criminal Justice Funds

  1. Who can levy the .1 percent sales tax for criminal justice purposes?

    Any county legislative body may levy this tax. Such a vote, however, is subject to a referendum clause. Once the levy is made, cities in that county will begin receiving a share of the tax revenue. Ten percent of the funds collected in incorporated and unincorporated areas go to the county. The remainder is distributed to the cities and the county on the basis of population. The amount a city receives is not related to the amount of tax collected within the city's boundaries. As of November 1996, 23 counties were levying this tax.

  2. How are "low impact" (distributions based on crime rate, population, and innovation) criminal justice funds under RCW 82.14.330 distributed?

    Twenty percent of the funds goes to cities that have programs to reduce the level of domestic violence. Twenty percent is distributed to cities that have initiated programs to help at-risk children or have child abuse victim response programs. Fourteen percent is allocated to cities that have innovative law enforcement strategies such as alternative sentencing and crime prevention programs. Ten percent of the funds goes to cities that contract for law enforcement services. To qualify for distributions under the above programs, cities must submit an application to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). Twenty percent is distributed on the basis of population to those cities which have had a three year average violent crime rate that is over 150 percent of the statewide average. Sixteen percent of the funds are handed out solely on the basis of population, with no city receiving less than $1,000.

  3. My city did not receive a distribution of "high crime" funds under RCW 82.14.320 this July. What happened?

    You do not qualify for this distribution for at least the next four quarters. The eligibility for any distribution under this statute, and the size of a distribution, depend in part on a particular city's crime rate relative to that of all other cities in the state. If a city's crime rate improves or that of other cities worsens, its distribution might decrease or be eliminated.

    Each summer, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs determines each city's eligibility and allocation based, in part, on the crime statistics from the previous year. That determines what percentage of the "pot" (which may be zero percent) for which each city qualifies for distributions to be made in July and October of the current year and January and April of the coming year. What the cities actually receive will depend on the receipts of the funding source, the motor vehicle excise tax. From a budget standpoint, this causes problems. When budgeting for the coming year, cities have a pretty good idea of what they will receive during the first two quarters, but little idea of what, if anything, they will receive during the last two quarters of the coming year.

  4. How may a city spend criminal justice funds?

    The funds received from applying to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development must be spent for the programs for which the city got the money. All other criminal justice funds must be spent for "criminal justice purposes." "Criminal justice purposes" are "those activities that substantially assist the criminal justice system, which may include circumstances where the ancillary benefit to the civil justice system occurs, and which includes domestic violence services such as those provided by domestic violence programs, community advocates, and legal advocates..." RCW 82.14.320(6) and RCW 82.14.330. In addition, the law requires that these expenditures not replace or supplant existing funding. Calendar year 1989 was determined to be the base year's budget to use to define "existing funding." Expenditures on criminal justice over and above this amount are permitted uses of these funds.

  5. How can a small city that contracts for police services use its criminal justice revenues?

    The State Auditor's Office realizes that small cities might have some difficulty finding uses for these funds, and it tries to be liberal in its interpretation of the law. A city should probably first use these funds to pay the difference between the cost of the contract in the current year and the cost in 1989. To use the funds in this way would not be supplanting, and it frees up general fund money for other purposes. Other uses might include contracting with the county for a DARE program in the city schools or contributing money to the county for the purchase of capital equipment.

  6. Can a small city spend criminal justice funds on equipment such as a camera or tape recorder that assists officers in law enforcement?

    In a small city, both the time of the officers and their equipment are used for both criminal and civil purposes, and the city would have a difficult time documenting exactly how many hours are spent on each. The State Auditor's Office recognizes this difference between small and large cities. However, if criminal justice funds are being used for such equipment, an effort should be made to ensure that the equipment is used primarily for criminal justice purposes.

  7. Can criminal justice revenues be used for increased police salaries and benefits?

    New police officers can be hired, salaries can be increased and overtime can be paid as long as the total budget for criminal justice is greater than the budget in 1989 by at least the amount of the new salaries and benefits and/or overtime expenditures.

  8. Can criminal justice revenues be used to build an addition to city hall for the police department?

    Yes, as long as the total amount of space occupied by city staff is increased by the amount of the addition. If the additional space causes the city to surplus other space, then the answer is "no." In the latter case, at least some of the amount spent would substitute for other spending.

  9. Can municipal court revenue be used to fund the police department?

    Yes. In fact, RCW 3.50.100(1) provides that the city's or town's portion of municipal court revenue from fees, costs, fines and forfeitures goes to the city or town’s general fund, or to any other fund designated by the city or town. (Subsections (2) and (5) of that statute provide, however, that part of the court revenues and interest accrued on fines goes to the state; subsection (5) also provides that 25 percent of the interest on fines and forfeitures must be used by the city or town for "local courts.")

    The city or town council can thus designate that court revenue of a certain amount is to be used for funding the police department. It should be noted that RCW 3.50.030 provides that all fines imposed by a traffic violations bureau also go to the city or town general fund.

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Fire Department

  1. Are cities required to pay for fire protection for city buildings and property if they annex into a fire district?

    RCW 52.30.020 provides that whenever a fire protection district includes within its area buildings and equipment owned by a municipal corporation, the municipality shall contract with the fire protection district for fire protection services.

    This is a mandatory requirement.

    AGLO 1974, No. 5 gives the opinion that the legislature by its enactment of these provisions:

    . . . manifested an intent that fire protection services received by a . . . municipal corporation by reason of its ownership of buildings and equipment situated within a fire protection district should be paid for by the benefiting agency or municipality.

    Unfortunately the statute does not contain any guidance regarding what the conditions of the contract should contain and the measure of payment is left to negotiation between the parties. The above-cited AGLO also stated that:

    . . . the contractual terms ultimately agreed upon as a consequence of this negotiating function should reflect charges which are based, insofar as practicable, upon the estimated costs to the contracting fire protection district of the services which are to be provided under the contract.

    For more information on this topic, see our Interlocal Cooperation in Fire Services and Local Government Fire Protection Servivce Providers (this page contains a number of links to contracts).

  2. Volunteer Fire Fighters - Is there a statutory limit on the number of volunteers allowed in a volunteer fire department?

    No. RCW 41.24.050 used to provide that a volunteer fire department was limited to 25 members for each one thousand population. The 2002 legislature amended this statute to remove the limit.

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Firearms/Weapons Control

  1. May a city ban the carrying of weapons by certain city employees?

    Yes. The case Cherry v. Metro Seattle, 116 Wn.2d 794, 808 P.2d 746 (1991) held that the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (METRO) could prohibit its bus drivers from carrying weapons. Such a regulation, the court concluded was not preempted by the state firearms law. This decision would also support a city or town's efforts to regulate or prohibit an employee's possession of firearms while on the job or in the workplace.

  2. May council ban the carrying of firearms at council meetings?

    No, the city council is preempted by state law with respect to firearms regulation. State law does prohibit possessing a weapon in certain places within a city, such as courtrooms, and does allow a city to restrict firearm possession in city-operated stadiums and convention centers. See RCW 9.41.300. However, state law does not allow a city to generally prohibit firearms in council chambers.

  3. What types of assault weapons are banned under the new federal crime bill?

    The new federal legislation makes it unlawful for a person to "manufacture, transfer, or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon." The term "semiautomatic assault weapon" means any firearms, or copies or duplicates of firearms known as:

    Norinco, Mitchell, and Poly Technologies Automat Kalashnikovs (all models); Action Arms Israeli Military Industries UZI and Gali; Beretta Ar 70; Colt AR-15; Fabrique National FN/FAL, FN/LAR, and FNC, SWD M-10, M-11, M-11/9, and M-12; Steyr AUG; INTRATEC TEC-9, TEC-DC9 and TEC-22; and revolving cylinder shotguns, such as (or similar to) the Street Sweeper and Striker 12.

    Also included within the definition of "semiautomatic assault weapon" are:

    • semi-automatic rifles with an ability to accept detachable magazines;
    • semiautomatic pistols with an ability to accept detachable magazines;
    • and semiautomatic shotguns with an ability to accept detachable magazines and a fixed magazine capacity in excess of 5 rounds.

    These prohibitions do not apply to the possession or transfer of any semiautomatic assault weapon otherwise lawfully possessed under Federal law on the date the new law goes into effect (the date it is signed by the President).

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Police Department

  1. How long is the basic police academy training?

    According to the Criminal Justice Training Commission's Web site, the basic police academy training consists of a 720-hour course. The course schedule is posted on the Criminal Justice Training Commission's Web site. For more information on the academy, go to the Criminal Justice Training Commission's Web site.

  2. Does a city have authority to contract for overflow jail facilities with a county other than the one in which it is located?

    Yes, as of June 13, 2002. The 2002 legislature, in SHB 2541 (Chapter 125, Laws of 2002), amended the first sentence of RCW 70.48.090 to read: "Contracts for jail services may be made between a county and a city, and among counties and cities." Formerly, this language read:

    "Contracts for jail services may be made between a county and city located within the boundaries of a county, and among counties."

  3. What training is required of police officers after completion of basic law enforcement training?

    There is no statutory or regulatory requirement of any additional training beyond the basic training curriculum established by the Criminal Justice Training Commission. However, if the police department wishes to be accredited by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC), one of the WASPC standards with which it must comply is successful completion by each line officer of "at least 30 hours of in-service core training conducted by the agency and/or Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission."

  4. Do police from other jurisdictions who are asked to help with special events in the city have authority to issue citations for violation of city ordinances?

    The Washington Mutual Aid Peace Officers Powers Act, provides authority for the cities to contract with individual police officers from other jurisdictions to enforce city ordinances. RCW 10.93.070 authorizes a general authority Washington "peace officer" to enforce traffic or criminal laws outside of their own jurisdiction in limited circumstances including:

    Written consent of the sheriff or chief of police in whose primary territorial jurisdiction the exercise of the powers occurs; . . .or, in response to the request of a peace officer with enforcement authority.

    Consequently, as long as the police chief issued a request for assistance, the police officers all have authority to issue citations for violation of local ordinances.

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Traffic Regulations

  1. Is it legal for a police department to impose a quota on traffic tickets per shift?

    There is no authority in this state for the conclusion that such quotas are illegal. This is not an issue that has been addressed by our appellate courts. It would seem that as long as each traffic citation issued is justified, the fact that some citations may have been motivated by a quota would not undermine the validity of the citations. There have been police departments in this and other states that have used and may still use such quotas. At least one state, Florida, has prohibited its state patrol from having a ticket quota, and the Wisconsin legislature has considered doing so also. In any event, quotas may be controversial, but this fact raises a political issue and apparently not a legal one. If your police department is unionized, quotas may be considered a working condition that would need to be bargained. This was alleged in a Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) case, but the complaint in that case was dismissed as being untimely and the commission did not address the issue. Public Safety > Traffic Regulations

  2. Do most traffic regulations apply on private streets?

    No. RCW 46.61.005 provides: "The provisions of this chapter relating to the operation of vehicles refer exclusively to the operation of vehicles upon highways except: (1) Where a different place is specifically referred to in a given section. (2) The provisions of RCW 46.52.010 through 46.52.090, RCW 46.61.500 through RCW 46.61.525, and RCW 46.61.5249 shall apply upon highways and elsewhere throughout the state." RCW 46.04.197 defines highway as: "Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel." So most of the traffic laws only apply to highways in the state, and highway is defined as every way that is publicly maintained. A private road is not publicly maintained and so the traffic laws do not apply. There are some exceptions, such as for DUI laws in RCW 46.61.500 through 46.61.525.

  3. What does the sign "WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT" mean when placed beneath a school speed limit sign?

    WAC 468-95-060 states: "The supplemental or lower panel of a "SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT 20" sign which reads "WHEN CHILDREN ARE PRESENT" shall indicate to the motorist that the 20-mile per hour school speed limit is in force under the following conditions:

    • School children occupying or walking within the marked crosswalk.
    • School children are waiting at the curb or on the shoulder of the roadway and are about to cross the road by way of the marked crosswalk.
    • School children are present or walking along the roadway, either on the adjacent sidewalk or, in the absence of sidewalks, on the shoulder within the posted school speed limit zone which extends 300 feet in either direction from the marked crosswalk.

  4. What rules apply to stopping at non-operating traffic signals?

    RCW 46.61.183 provides:

    Nonfunctioning signal lights. Except when directed to proceed by a flagger, police officer, or fire fighter, the driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection controlled by a traffic control signal that is temporarily without power on all approaches or is not displaying any green, red, or yellow indication to the approach the vehicle is on, shall consider the intersection to be an all-way stop. After stopping, the driver shall yield the right of way in accordance with RCW 46.61.180(1) and 46.61.185.

  5. Is it a violation of a state traffic law for a car to pull a sled behind it on a public street?

    Yes. RCW 46.61.765 provides that no person who is riding upon a bicycle, roller skates, sled or other toy vehicle may attach himself or the toy vehicle to any vehicle upon a roadway. It is a traffic infraction to do so. This provision is a part of the Washington Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO) and so any city or town that has adopted the MTO may enforce this provision by citing to a local ordinance.

  6. When is a school zone speed limit in effect?

    RCW 46.61.440 defines the speed limit zone controlled by a school speed limit sign to be 300 feet in either direction from a marked crosswalk. WAC 468-95-060 declares the "When Children Are Present" speed limit to be in effect when:


      (1) School children are occupying or walking within the marked crosswalk.
      (2) School children are waiting at the curb or on the shoulder of the roadway and are about to cross the roadway by way of the marked crosswalk.
      (3) School children are present or walking along the roadway, either on the adjacent sidewalk or, in the absence of sidewalks, on the shoulder within the posted school speed limit zone which extends 300 feet in either direction from the marked crosswalk.

  7. Is there a statute which deals with doubling traffic fines for speeding violations committed in construction zones?

    RCW 46.61.527 provides for double fines when speeding offenses occur in construction zones. This provision is part of the Model Traffic Ordinance (see WAC 308-330-425).

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Vehicle Towing and Impoundment

  1. Does the city have authority to tow vehicles parked in the fire lane on school district property?

    In order to tow vehicles in such situations, the city needs to have an ordinance in effect which contains various provisions spelled out in RCW 46.55.240.