Chapter 8.70
INTERFERENCE WITH A FIREFIGHTER OR EMERGENCY RESPONDER
Sections:
8.70.020 Obstructing a firefighter or emergency responder.
8.70.030 Violation is a gross misdemeanor.
8.70.010 Definitions.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Firefighter” means any individual, whether paid or volunteer, who is a member of a lawfully constituted fire department, fire district, or similar organization, whose job or position is to respond to the scene of fires, accidents, and/or other emergencies, and to stop fires and/or to rescue or assist people or property;
(2) “Emergency responder” means any individual, whether paid or volunteer, whose job or position is to respond to the scene of fires, accidents, and/or other emergencies, and to provide medical care, including without limitation paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and physicians. [Ord. 1349 §1, 2023]
8.70.020 Obstructing a firefighter or emergency responder.
A person is guilty of obstructing a firefighter or emergency responder if the firefighter or emergency responder is in uniform or announces being a firefighter or emergency responder, and is responding to or at the scene of a fire, accident, and/or other emergency, and the person intentionally:
(1) Attempts to interfere or physically interferes with a firefighter or emergency responder;
(2) Refuses or fails to move from a location to another location which is reasonable under the circumstances as ordered by a firefighter or emergency responder;
(3) Hinders or delays a firefighter or emergency responder by disobeying an order to stop given by such officer;
(4) Refuses or fails to cease an activity or behavior that creates a risk of injury to any person when ordered to do so by a firefighter or emergency responder; or
(5) Refuses or fails to leave the scene of an emergency response while it is in progress after being requested to leave by a firefighter or emergency responder when the person’s conduct or presence hinders, delays, or compromises firefighter or emergency responder actions or rescue efforts, threatens the safety of firefighter or emergency responders or members of the public, or attempts to incite others to violence by intentionally advocating or directing imminent violence. [Ord. 1349 §1, 2023]
8.70.030 Violation is a gross misdemeanor.
Notwithstanding LCC 1.20.020, obstructing a firefighter or emergency responder shall be a gross misdemeanor punishable consistent with Chapter 9A.20 RCW. [Ord. 1349 §1, 2023]
8.70.040 Severability.
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this chapter be preempted by state or federal law or regulation, such decision or preemption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter or its application to other persons or circumstances. [Ord. 1349 §1, 2023]
8.70.050 Effective date.
The effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be the 18th day of October, 2023. [Ord. 1349 §1, 2023]