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Subjects › Legal › Nuisances › Nuisances on Public Property and Public Ways
Updated 04/2011

Nuisances on Public Property and Public Ways

Contents

Begging, Pedestrian Interference

  • Issaquah Ordinance No. 2513 (Adobe Acrobat Document), passed 01/2008 - Regulates solicitation, adds time restrictions, panhandling on off and on ramps and certain intersections
  • Covington Ordinance No. 06-10 (Adobe Acrobat Document), passed 05/25/2010 - Amends provisions on aggressive solicitation
  • Lakewood Ordinance No. 532 (Adobe Acrobat Document), amended 04/18/2011 - Aggressive begging
  • Seattle Municipal Code Sec. 12A.12.015 - Pedestrian Interference
  • Pierce County Ordinance No. 2008-45 (Adobe Acrobat Document), passed 09/23/2008 - Panhandling and Solicitation - Panhandlers must stay at least 25 feet away from people using ATM machines, pay phones, gas stations or other exposed public areas in unincorporated Pierce County; prohibits solicitations to occupants of vehicles on public roadways
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Sec. 8.13.030 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Obstructing Pedestrians or Traffic
  • Tacoma Ordinance No. 27600 (Adobe Acrobat Document), passed 04/03/2007 - Vehicular or Pedestrian Interference, file also contains research on comparative municipal ordinances in various U.S. cities, and comparison spread sheet

Camping on Public Property

  • Burlington Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 - Camping
  • Everett Municipal Code Ch. 8.56 - Camping
  • Friday Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 10.04.050 (E) (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Prohibited stopping, standing or parking areas [...] E. Parking of any vehicle on any town street for the purpose of camping or sleeping therein is prohibited.
  • Pierce County Code Ch. 8.96 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Parking and Camping Prohibited
  • Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 8.22 - Camping
  • Westport Municipal Code Ch. 6.24 - Camping on Public Property

Crowds

  • Blaine Municipal Code Sec. 9.20.020 - Unlawful assembly.
  • Bellingham Municipal Code Sec. 10.28.020 - See (S.) - Nuisances Declared
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 8.60 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Unlawful Assembly

Cruising and Street Racing

A number of cities have adopted anti-cruising ordinances that prohibit individuals from repeatedly driving on certain streets at certain times; such ordinances have been upheld by the courts, and they have been effective in some cities. Anti-cruising ordinances help to alleviate traffic congestion by dispersing the people who want to cruise, thus lessening the likelihood of violence and antisocial behavior. Care should be taken to avoid passage of an overly broad cruising ordinance, which might invite a legal challenge. Not all cities have conditions justifying such ordinances.

  • Kent Municipal Code Ch. 9.42 - Unlawful Race Attendance
  • Kent Municipal Code Ch. 9.43 - Stay Out of Areas Racing - SOAR
  • King County Code Ch. 46.10 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - No Cruising
  • Kirkland Municipal Code Ch. 12.29 - Cruising
  • Puyallup Municipal Code Ch. 10.70 - Cruising
  • Yakima Municipal Code Ch. 9.24 - Cruising Control - Allows open cruising on certain nights during the year.

Debris on Roadway

  • RCW 46.61.655 - Provides that no vehicle shall be driven or moved on any public highway unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping. This has also been adopted by reference in the Model Traffic Ordinance.
  • Cheney Municipal Code Ch. 12.40 - Debris Removal
  • Clyde Hill Municipal Code Sec. 8.05.020 - Definitions [...] 7. Dirt, mud, rocks and/or debris of any kind dropped, deposited or allowed to remain in any manner or condition on the surface of any street within the town. (1993)
  • Marysville Municipal Code Ch. 12.40 - Clean Condition of Public Rights-Of-Way
  • Seattle Municipal Code
  • Litter and Garbage Nuisances, MRSC
  • Erosion and Sediment Control, MRSC

Obstructions in Rights-of-Way

  • Lewis County Code Ch. 8.35 (Adobe Acrobat Document) - Nuisances on Highways and Rights-of-Way
  • Camas Municipal Code Sec. 8.06.040(I) - Obstructions Public Rights-of-Way

    Parking of Vehicles for Sale

    Faulty Security Systems

    False alarms are more than an inconvenience; they take up the time and energy of emergency personnel who may be needed to respond to a real emergency. The majority of alarm calls received by police departments are false alarms which may be avoided by proper maintenance of alarm systems and a suitable response by the property owner once the alarm has sounded. Many jurisdictions have adopted false alarm ordinances to increase awareness and accountability of alarm owners. The penalties provide an incentive for alarm owners to inspect and maintain their systems and take corrective action to prevent false alarms.

    Property from Evictions Placed on Public Property

    • RCW 59.18.312(5) - Writ of Restitution - Storage and Sale of Tenant's Property
    • Lewis County Code Sec. 1.22.040 - Removal of Evicted Personal Property and/or Solid Waste Placed onto Public Access
    • Kitsap County Code Sec. 9.56.090 - Removal of Personal Property and/or Solid Waste Placed onto Public Access
    • Tacoma Municipal Code Sec. 8.30.055 - Abandoned Property in the Rights-of-Way

    Sidewalk Obstructions

    • Auburn Municipal Code Ch. 12.32 - Sidewalk Obstructions
    • Everett Municipal Code Ch. 13.12 - Obstructing Sidewalks
    • Mercer Island Municipal Code Sec. 8.24.020 - Types of nuisances [...] (F) and (H)

    Shopping Carts

    Sprinkling of Streets

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