Thread: WA bill would restrict carry on ferries

New law would restrict behavior on WA ferries - seattlepi.com

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) — The Washington State Patrol is requesting a law to help troopers control inappropriate behavior on state ferries.

The bill introduced Monday by Sen. Kevin Ranker of San Juan Island lists smoking, spitting, littering, playing radios, urinating or defecating in places other than approved plumbing fixtures, carrying firearms or flammable liquids, roller-skating, skateboarding, gambling, trying to pass oneself off as a ferry worker, and letting a pet off its leash as misdemeanors.

That behavior on a state vessel or ferry terminal would bring a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

"When it does happen, we'd like to have something very specific in law that allows us to address it," said Capt. Jason Berry, legislative liaison.

Berry told the Kitsap Sun (Bill would make bad ferry behavior a misdemeanor » Kitsap Sun ) ferries were left out of a law that covers behavior on other forms of transit. Troopers can't arrest ferry riders now unless the behavior rises to disorderly conduct.

For example, troopers have been frustrated that people must keep dogs on leashes in Seattle, but when they enter the Colman Dock, they don't have to, Berry said. Dogs running loose around the State Patrol's bomb-sniffing dogs could endanger the animals and humans.

The proposed law would allow troopers to remove somebody before danger escalates, Berry said.

"A lot of times when we're dealing with things at a lower level we can control it before it ever gets to that point," Berry said. "If somebody's behavior gets so out of control or somebody is doing a dangerous thing, we can arrest them and immediately remove them and that will stabilize things."

The State Patrol has provided security for Washington state ferries since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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Information from: Kitsap Sun, Kitsap Sun: Local Kitsap, Washington News Delivered Throughout the Day.

Read more: New law would restrict behavior on WA ferries - seattlepi.com

The firearms restriction sounds unnecessary to me. Some of the other acts seem have an excessive penalty . I hope that letting a pet off your leash wouldn't be a misdemeanor worth 90 days in jail and a $1000 fine.

The entire thing sounds unnecessary.

Have a problem with pooping on the poop deck? Ask your Dr. About "ferryoll"










Side effects may include.... Frequent unleashing of your dog, uncontrollable defication and having your gun taken away.

Not sure how this might be construed as restricting carry:

(f) Carries any flammable liquid, explosive, acid, or other article or material likely to cause harm to others, except that nothing in this subsection prevents a person from carrying a cigarette, cigar, or pipe lighter or carrying a firearm or ammunition in a way that is not otherwise prohibited by law;

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdo ... s/6245.pdf

...really though, while we're at it:

(r) Opens vehicle doors and exits vehicle while the adjacent lane is loading, thus causing loading to come to a halt while you stretch and look around cluelessly for the nearest stairway to the upper deck(s);

(s) Leaves car alarm activated in 3-foot seas, prompting repeated public address pleas for the "owner of a silver BMW to return to the car deck and TURN OFF YOUR DANG CAR ALARM." Sheesh.

What is the precedence for them making this request - I suspect there is none or if there is it is a weak argument.

I agree with fishkisser101. Here is a link to the draft bill in the Senate.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j..._0oXybOD1oxHVA

Section 1(f) seems to read that you're OK with a firearm so long as you're not violating other, existing laws.

Peter

Deleted..

Someone needs to show his voters he is not asleep.

Originally Posted by ATCclears

I agree with fishkisser101. Here is a link to the draft bill in the Senate.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j..._0oXybOD1oxHVA

Section 1(f) seems to read that you're OK with a firearm so long as you're not violating other, existing laws.

Peter

Well, I want to defecate and/or urinate on deck while carrying a gun. Therefore, I disapprove of this bill.

From the Sun website

Correction: The original story incorrectly said that SB 6245 included carrying of firearms in the list of behaviors that could be charged as a misdemeanor. In fact, the bill text says that "nothing in this subsection prevents a person from ... carrying a firearm or ammunition in a way that is not otherwise prohibited by law."

Read more: Bill would make bad ferry behavior a misdemeanor » Kitsap Sun

...last month, ironically, the county prosecutor indicated many misdemeanors will not be prosecuted due to lingering budget woes:

That’s according to prosecuting attorney Randy Gaylord, who, in a prepared statement released Dec. 20, said to offset that pending $30,600 cut he will be forced reduce the hours of the attorney assigned to handle misdemeanor cases by half. Gaylord said the department will take the first two months of the year to trim down the District Court caseload, where most misdemeanors are prosecuted, and to implement new guidelines for handling future misdemeanor cases.

Justice on the ropes: county prosecutor and sheriff grapple with upcoming budget cuts - Islands' Sounder