H-2372.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2008

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Representatives Sheahan, Sterk, Crouse and Costa)

Read first time 03/03/97.

Authorizing law enforcement officers to impound the vehicles of persons who are patronizing prostitutes.

    AN ACT Relating to persons who patronize prostitutes; adding a new section to chapter 9A.88 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that most law enforcement effort to prevent prostitution is directed at punishing prostitutes.  The legislature also finds that many patrons of prostitutes use motor vehicles in order to obtain the services of prostitutes and that successful prevention of prostitution involves efforts to curtail the demand for services offered by prostitutes.  It is the intent of the legislature to decrease the demand for prostitution services and thereby eliminate the economic foundation for the prostitution industry.  It is also the intent of the legislature to eliminate traffic congestion and other concerns to neighborhoods and business areas caused by patrons cruising in motor vehicles in areas of high prostitution activity.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 9A.88 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Upon arresting and taking into custody a person suspected of patronizing a prostitute in violation of RCW 9A.88.110 or patronizing a juvenile prostitute in violation of RCW 9.68A.100, where a motor vehicle was used in the commission of either crime, a law enforcement officer may immediately impound the vehicle, provided that the person arrested is the owner of the vehicle.

    (2) Impoundments performed under this section shall be in accordance with chapter 46.55 RCW.

    (3) If the vehicle of a person arrested for patronizing a prostitute or patronizing a juvenile prostitute is impounded under subsection (1) of this section and the person is not subsequently convicted of the crime for which he or she was arrested, the law enforcement agency that arrested the person and ordered the impoundment of the vehicle is liable for the costs of the impoundment, including towing and storage costs.

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