Chapter 9.03
COURTROOM AND JUDICIAL BUILDING SECURITY
Sections:
9.03.010 Courtroom security.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter the places described in subsection B of this section when he or she knowingly has under his or her control any weapon, ammunition, firearm part, fake firearm, protective spray, alcohol, controlled substance, explosive device, or drug paraphernalia with residue.
B. The following places are subject to the restrictions of subsection A of this section:
1. The restricted access areas of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (a) arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense, (b) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (c) otherwise confined pursuant to an order of a court, except an order under Chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public.
2. Those areas in any building which are used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge’s chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and corridors adjacent to areas used in connection with court proceedings. The restricted areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building that is used in connection with court proceedings, when it is possible to protect court areas without restricting ingress and egress to the building. The restricted areas shall be the minimum necessary to fulfill the objective of this section.
C. Areas where weapons are prohibited shall be clearly marked and notices shall be posted at each entrance to the building of the prohibition against weapons in the restricted areas.
D. Subsection A of this section does not apply to:
1. Members of the armed forces of the United States or the state of Washington when carrying a firearm or other weapon in the discharge of official duty or traveling to or from official duty; or
2. Duly authorized federal, state, or local law enforcement officers when carrying a firearm or other weapon in conformance with their employing agency’s policy.
E. “Weapons” as used in this section means any firearm, explosive as defined in RCW 70.74.010, or instrument or weapon listed in RCW 9.41.250.
F. Any person violating subsection A of this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 1673 § 1, 2022; Ord. 1444 § 1, 2012).