Last week Seattle law enforcement personnel started enforcing Seattle’s new public drug use ordinance. The ordinance is essentially the same law that the state legislature passed last May in an effort to address the drug crisis in and around Washington State. However, just because the law is now being implemented does not mean everyone is ‘on board’ with it. Some feel it is necessary to clean up our streets and reduce the deluge of crime the City is battling. Others feel it is no better than the laws previously in place, laws that they claim didn’t work to curb anything other than to penalize one subset of our society. The hope is that the ordinance, as applied, will help those in need to get connected with appropriate services and avoid just being housed in jail, which many feel does nothing to improve the situation. Is it all just a pursuit of ideological purity, or can the powers that be really effect a positive change? Over time, we will see just how successful (or not) the new ordinance is for Seattle. Presumably, it will all depend on how it is enforced and implemented. Here is to hoping for the best …
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge (drug related or otherwise), immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900
