Caught smoking legal marijuana in public? Toking tickets to cost $27 in Seattle
Dec 12, 2013, 7:15 AM | Updated: 11:35 am
Getting caught smoking pot in public in Seattle will likely end up costing someone $27 for a ticket.
A Seattle City Council committee decided Wednesday the fine should be the same as for the public consumption of alcohol. Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes had wanted a stiffer fine, but he told the committee he was OK with the decision.
He said he’s been speaking with the police about how to handle people smoking pot in public and he believes this fine is appropriate.
“If someone is using in public, perhaps they’re uninformed,” Holmes said. “Possession is legal. Open consumption is not. It’s essentially an educate first and ticket last approach.”
The full council is expected to approve the fine on Monday.
It will also lower the fine for violating the indoor smoking ban from $100 to $27.
The state fine for smoking pot in public is $50, but a ticket will cost you more than $100 after other fees are tacked on.
