Are body cameras necessary in law enforcement? King County Sheriff, John Urquhart, thinks so, and on July 20, 2017 he made his position clear by sending an email to the Metropolitan King County Council requesting money to outfit his deputies with body cameras. Seattle’s mayor, Ed Murray, is also pushing for officer body cameras. He,… Continue Reading »
Bias free policing is on its way to Seattle? Really? In yet again another Seattle City Council first, something that should go without saying – and is actually a policy that is already ‘in the books’ – has been codified into law; on Monday our ever illustrious stumbling, bumbling City Council codified ‘bias-free policing’. Duh… Continue Reading »
While a DUI case is pending, court’s routinely require the defendant to follow certain guidelines/ conditions. Standard ‘conditions of release’ include don’t drive within 24 hours of drinking, don’t have a BAC of .08 or greater, don’t refuse a breath or blood test if lawfully requested to take one, and don’t commit crime. In DUI… Continue Reading »
Pursuant to Washington State’s implied consent law (RCW 46.20.308), a driver arrested for DUI faces the imposition of a driver’s license penalty in the form of a suspension or revocation of his/her driving privilege for failing (blowing a .08 or greater) or refusing to take a breath/blood test. Prior to the actual imposition of the… Continue Reading »
An interesting article in the Seattle Times today outlines why the Seattle City Attorney’s decision to change the name of a certain crime has caused havoc in folks’ lives. Outside of Seattle the crime is known as ‘Patronizing a Prostitute’. In the City of Seattle it is known as ‘Sexual Exploitation’. Exactly the same crime,… Continue Reading »
As so eloquently outlined in the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association, the primary duty of a prosecutor is to seek justice within the bounds of the law, and to not merely convict an accused person; a prosecutor should consider the interests of both victims and witnesses, and respect the constitutional and legal… Continue Reading »
To some Seattle may seem to be on the cutting edge, and yet to others Seattle may seem to be over the top. Well … last month our City Council signed into law something that some may very well say is cutting edge, while others may claim is simply – over the top. On May… Continue Reading »
As with every year, when summer rolls in to town our waterways fill up. Boaters take to the water like ducks on a pond. In like kind, law enforcement agencies step up their crackdown on people boating while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. This year Memorial Day weekend marked the beginning of law enforcement’s BUI targeting… Continue Reading »
Come August of this year holding an electronic device while behind the wheel (beyond just texting or holding a phone to your ear) will violate Washington law. This is so because Washington Governor Jay Inslee last week signed into law an act prohibiting holding an electronic device — including phones, tablets and other electronic gadgets… Continue Reading »
In domestic violence cases it is immeasurably important to understand the full context of the parties’ relationship. The relationship itself often tells a story, and paints a picture of the actual situation giving rise as to why police were called in the first place. Rarely is it as simple as someone hit their loved one.… Continue Reading »
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