S-1539

AN ACT Relating to declaring buildings used for criminal activity to be a nuisance; adding a new chapter to Title 7 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Building" includes, but is not limited to, any structure or any separate part or portion thereof, whether permanent or not, or the ground itself.

(2) "Criminal activity" means a pattern of criminal activity including felonies and misdemeanors.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Every building or unit within a building used for the purpose of aiding, promoting, or conducting criminal activity, and every building or unit within a building wherein or upon which such acts take place, is a nuisance which shall be enjoined, abated, and prevented, whether it is a public or private nuisance. In a multiunit building only the offending unit shall be declared a nuisance, and only the offending unit shall be enjoined, abated, and prevented.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Any person with legal standing and who resides, works in, or owns property in the same multifamily building, apartment complex, or within a one-block radius may bring an action as provided for in section 2 of this act by filing a complaint with a law enforcement agency in the county in which the property is located. Such action shall be commenced by the filing of a complaint alleging the facts constituting the nuisance. Such action may also be commenced by any public agency.

Any complaint filed under this chapter shall be verified or accompanied by affidavit. For purposes of showing that the owner or his or her agent has had an opportunity to abate the nuisance, the affidavit shall contain a description of all attempts by the applicant to notify and locate the owner of the property or the owner's agent, including at least one attempt to notify the owner or owner's agent by registered mail.

In addition, the affidavit shall describe in detail the adverse impact associated with the property on the surrounding neighborhood. "Adverse impact" includes, but is not limited to, the following: Any recent search warrants served on the property where evidence of criminal activity was seized; recent arrests of persons who frequent the property for purposes of criminal activity; a recent increase in the number of complaints made to law enforcement of illegal activity associated with the property which result in arrests for criminal activity; recent increases in arrests for weapons violations of persons who frequent the property; and recent increases in graffiti or garbage in the immediate vicinity.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the law enforcement agency shall conduct an investigation into the allegations and, if probable cause is found that a violation of this chapter is occurring, the complaint and results of the investigation shall be filed in the county superior court. After receiving the complaint, the court shall grant a hearing within three business days.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Upon application for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, the court may, upon a showing of good cause, issue an ex parte restraining order or preliminary injunction, preventing the defendant and all other persons from removing or in any manner interfering with the personal property and contents of the place where the nuisance is alleged to exist and may grant such preliminary equitable relief as is necessary to prevent the continuance or recurrence of the nuisance pending final resolution of the matter on the merits. However, pending the decision, the stock in trade may not be so restrained, but an inventory and full accounting of all business transactions may be required.

The restraining order or preliminary injunction may be served by handing to and leaving a copy with any person in charge of the place or residing in the place, or by posting a copy in a conspicuous place at or upon one or more of the principal doors or entrances to the place, or by both delivery and posting. The officer serving the order or injunction shall forthwith make and return into court an inventory of the personal property and contents situated in and used in conducting or maintaining the nuisance. Additionally a copy of the restraining order or preliminary injunction must be sent by registered mail to the owner of the building.

Any violation of the order or injunction is a contempt of court, and where such order or injunction is posted, mutilation or removal thereof while the same remains in force is a contempt of court if such posted order or injunction contains a notice to that effect.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction shall not issue under this chapter except upon the giving of a bond or security by the applicant, in the sum that the court deems proper, but not less than one thousand dollars, for the payment of such costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by any party who is found to have been wrongfully restrained or enjoined. A bond or security shall not be required of the state of Washington, municipal corporations, or political subdivisions of the state of Washington.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. An action under this chapter shall have precedence over all other actions, except prior matters of the same character, actions under chapter 7.43 RCW, criminal proceedings, election contests, hearings on temporary restraining orders and injunctions, and actions to forfeit vehicles used in violation of the uniform controlled substances act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) If the complaint under this chapter is filed by a citizen, the complaint shall not be dismissed by the citizen for want of prosecution except upon a sworn statement made by the citizen and the citizen's attorney, if the citizen has one. The statement shall set forth the reasons why the action should be dismissed. The case shall only be dismissed if so ordered by the court.

(2) In case of failure to prosecute the action with reasonable diligence, or at the request of the plaintiff, the court, in its discretion, may substitute any other citizen consenting to be substituted for the plaintiff.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A copy of the complaint, together with a notice of the time and place of the hearing of the action shall be served upon the defendant at least one business day before the hearing. Service may also be made by posting the papers in the same manner as is provided for in section 4 of this act. In addition to service by posting, a copy of the complaint must be sent by registered mail to the owner of the building or the agent of the owner. If the hearing is then continued at the request of any defendant, all temporary orders and injunctions shall be extended as a matter of course.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, if the existence of the nuisance is established in the action, an order of abatement shall be entered as part of the final judgment in the case. Plaintiff's costs in the action, including those of abatement, are a lien upon the building or unit within a building. The lien is enforceable and collectible by execution issued by order of the court.

(2) If the court finds and concludes that the owner of the building or unit within a building:

(a) Had no knowledge of the existence of the nuisance or has been making reasonable efforts to abate the nuisance;

(b) Has not been guilty of any contempt of court in the proceedings; and

(c) Will immediately abate any such nuisance that may exist at the building or unit within a building and prevent it from being a nuisance within a period of one year thereafter,

the court shall, if satisfied of the owner's good faith, order the building or unit within a building to be delivered to the owner, and no order of abatement shall be entered. If an order of abatement has been entered and the owner subsequently meets the requirements of this subsection, the order of abatement shall be canceled.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Any final order of abatement issued under this chapter shall:

(1) Direct the removal of all personal property subject to seizure and forfeiture under RCW 69.50.505 or other law from the building or unit within a building, and direct their disposition under the forfeiture provisions of RCW 69.50.505 or other law;

(2) Provide for the immediate closure of the building or unit within a building against its use for any purpose, and for keeping it closed for a period of one year unless released sooner as provided in this chapter; and

(3) State that while the order of abatement remains in effect the building or unit within a building shall remain in the custody of the court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. In all actions brought under this chapter, the proceeds and all moneys forfeited under the forfeiture provisions of RCW 69.50.505 or other law shall be applied as follows:

(1) First, to the fees and costs of the removal and sale;

(2) Second, to the allowances and costs of closing and keeping closed the building or unit within a building;

(3) Third, to the payment of the plaintiff's costs in the action; and

(4) Fourth, the balance, if any, to the owner of the property.

If the proceeds of the sale of items subject to seizure and forfeiture do not fully discharge all of the costs, fees, and allowances, the building or unit within a building shall then also be sold under execution issued upon the order of the court, and the proceeds of the sale shall be applied in a like manner.

A building or unit within a building shall not be sold under this section unless the court finds and concludes by clear and convincing evidence that the owner of the building or unit within a building had actual or constructive knowledge or notice of the existence of the nuisance. However, this shall not be construed as limiting or prohibiting the entry of any final order of abatement as provided in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. An intentional violation of a restraining order, preliminary injunction, or order of abatement under this chapter is a contempt of court as provided in chapter 7.21 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Whenever the owner of a building or unit within a building upon which the act or acts constituting the contempt have been committed, or the owner of any interest in the building or unit has been found in contempt of court, and fined in any proceedings under this chapter, the fine is a lien upon the building or unit within a building to the extent of the owner's interest. The lien is enforceable and collectible by execution issued by order of the court.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. The abatement of a nuisance under this chapter does not prejudice the right of any person to recover damages for its past existence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. Sections 1 through 15 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 7 RCW.