State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2004 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/02/04.
AN ACT Relating to the prevention of cyberstalking; amending RCW 9A.46.060 and 9A.46.100; reenacting and amending RCW 9.94A.515 and 9.94A.515; adding a new section to chapter 9.61 RCW; prescribing penalties; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 9.61 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) A person is guilty of cyberstalking if he or she, with intent
to harass, intimidate, torment, or embarrass any other person, and
under circumstances not constituting telephone harassment, makes an
electronic communication to such other person or a third party:
(a) Using any lewd, lascivious, indecent, or obscene words, images,
or language, or suggesting the commission of any lewd or lascivious
act;
(b) Anonymously or repeatedly whether or not conversation occurs;
or
(c) Threatening to inflict injury on the person or property of the
person called or any member of his or her family or household.
(2) Cyberstalking is a gross misdemeanor, except as provided in
subsection (3) of this section.
(3) Cyberstalking is a class C felony if either of the following
applies:
(a) The perpetrator has previously been convicted of the crime of
harassment, as defined in RCW 9A.46.060, with the same victim or a
member of the victim's family or household or any person specifically
named in a no-contact order or no-harassment order in this or any other
state; or
(b) The perpetrator engages in the behavior prohibited under
subsection (1)(c) of this section by threatening to kill the person
threatened or any other person.
(4) Any offense committed under this section may be deemed to have
been committed either at the place from which the communication was
made or at the place where the communication was received.
(5) For purposes of this section, "electronic communication" means
the transmission of information by wire, radio, optical cable,
electromagnetic, or other similar means. "Electronic communication"
includes, but is not limited to, electronic mail, internet based
communications, pager service, and electronic text messaging.
Sec. 2 RCW 9.94A.515 and 2003 c 335 s 4, 2003 c 283 s 32, 2003 c
267 s 2, 2003 c 250 s 13, 2003 c 119 s 7, and 2003 c 52 s 3 are each
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
TABLE 2 | ||
CRIMES INCLUDED WITHIN EACH SERIOUSNESS LEVEL | ||
XVI | ||
XV | ||
XIV | ||
XIII | ||
XII | ||
XI | ||
X | ||
IX | ||
VIII | ||
VII | ||
VI | ||
V | ||
IV | ||
III | ||
Cyberstalking (subsequent conviction or threat of death) (section 1(3) of this act) | ||
II | ||
I | ||
Mineral Trespass (RCW 78.44.330) | ||
Sec. 3 RCW 9.94A.515 and 2003 c 335 s 5, 2003 c 283 s 33, 2003 c
267 s 3, 2003 c 250 s 14, 2003 c 119 s 8, 2003 c 53 s 56, and 2003 c 52
s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
TABLE 2 | ||
CRIMES INCLUDED WITHIN EACH SERIOUSNESS LEVEL | ||
XVI | ||
XV | ||
XIV | ||
XIII | ||
XII | ||
XI | ||
X | ||
IX | ||
VIII | ||
VII | ||
VI | ||
V | ||
IV | ||
III | ||
Cyberstalking (subsequent conviction or threat of death) (section 1(3) of this act) | ||
Escape 2 (RCW 9A.76.120) | ||
II | ||
I | ||
Sec. 4 RCW 9A.46.060 and 1999 c 180 s 7 are each amended to read
as follows:
As used in this chapter, "harassment" may include but is not
limited to any of the following crimes:
(1) Harassment (RCW 9A.46.020);
(2) Malicious harassment (RCW 9A.36.080);
(3) Telephone harassment (RCW 9.61.230);
(4) Assault in the first degree (RCW 9A.36.011);
(5) Assault of a child in the first degree (RCW 9A.36.120);
(6) Assault in the second degree (RCW 9A.36.021);
(7) Assault of a child in the second degree (RCW 9A.36.130);
(8) Assault in the fourth degree (RCW 9A.36.041);
(9) Reckless endangerment (RCW 9A.36.050);
(10) Extortion in the first degree (RCW 9A.56.120);
(11) Extortion in the second degree (RCW 9A.56.130);
(12) Coercion (RCW 9A.36.070);
(13) Burglary in the first degree (RCW 9A.52.020);
(14) Burglary in the second degree (RCW 9A.52.030);
(15) Criminal trespass in the first degree (RCW 9A.52.070);
(16) Criminal trespass in the second degree (RCW 9A.52.080);
(17) Malicious mischief in the first degree (RCW 9A.48.070);
(18) Malicious mischief in the second degree (RCW 9A.48.080);
(19) Malicious mischief in the third degree (RCW 9A.48.090);
(20) Kidnapping in the first degree (RCW 9A.40.020);
(21) Kidnapping in the second degree (RCW 9A.40.030);
(22) Unlawful imprisonment (RCW 9A.40.040);
(23) Rape in the first degree (RCW 9A.44.040);
(24) Rape in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.050);
(25) Rape in the third degree (RCW 9A.44.060);
(26) Indecent liberties (RCW 9A.44.100);
(27) Rape of a child in the first degree (RCW 9A.44.073);
(28) Rape of a child in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.076);
(29) Rape of a child in the third degree (RCW 9A.44.079);
(30) Child molestation in the first degree (RCW 9A.44.083);
(31) Child molestation in the second degree (RCW 9A.44.086);
(32) Child molestation in the third degree (RCW 9A.44.089);
(33) Stalking (RCW 9A.46.110);
(34) Cyberstalking (section 1 of this act);
(35) Residential burglary (RCW 9A.52.025);
(((35))) (36) Violation of a temporary or permanent protective
order issued pursuant to chapter 9A.46, 10.14, 10.99, 26.09, or 26.50
RCW;
(((36))) (37) Unlawful discharge of a laser in the first degree
(RCW 9A.49.020); and
(((37))) (38) Unlawful discharge of a laser in the second degree
(RCW 9A.49.030).
Sec. 5 RCW 9A.46.100 and 1992 c 186 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
As used in RCW 9.61.230, section 1 of this act, 9A.46.020, or
9A.46.110, a person has been "convicted" at such time as a plea of
guilty has been accepted or a verdict of guilty has been filed,
notwithstanding the pendency of any future proceedings including but
not limited to sentencing, posttrial motions, and appeals.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 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. 7 This act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
immediately, except for section 3 of this act, which takes effect July
1, 2004.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 Section 2 of this act expires July 1, 2004.