Seattle City Attorney says Stay Out of Drug Area/Prostitution zones difficult to enforce
Mar 20, 2025, 5:00 AM
A Seattle Police Department vehicle can be seen on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Police Department)
(Photo courtesy of the Seattle Police Department)
Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison said it “will take some time to get law enforcement trained” for Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) and Prostitution (SOAP) zones.
Appearing on “The Jason Rantz Show” on KTTH, Davison emphasized the intent behind these ordinances, stating, “The purpose of SOAP is to disrupt known open-air drug markets and criminal enterprises. We want to make it difficult for those who are dealing drugs to operate in these areas.”
Despite the clear objectives, some Seattle residents have questioned whether these ordinances are being effectively enforced.
Davison acknowledged the challenges, saying, “We stand ready to go, but remember, these are requests made by my prosecutors to a Seattle Municipal Court judge. Only if granted by the judge are these conditions of release set.”
She also provided data on the current enforcement status.
“For SOAP, we have one pending request after a guilty verdict,” Davison said. “For Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA), there have been three granted requests — two this year and one the year before.”
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Davison says ‘tracking individuals can be difficult’
When Rantz asked about the practical enforcement of these ordinances, Davidson explained, “If a person goes back into the prohibited zone and an officer sees them, that would be a new criminal act, and we would prosecute that. However, tracking these individuals can be difficult.”
She highlighted the importance of community involvement, stating, “Officers know their neighborhoods and the problematic individuals. Small business owners and residents frequently communicate with officers, making it possible for them to recognize violators.”
Addressing concerns about the effectiveness of these ordinances given current police staffing levels, Davison said, “The purpose of SODA is to disrupt open-air drug markets. We hope the court orders themselves act as a deterrent. Officers typically work their regular shifts and know their beats, so it is possible for them to enforce these conditions.”
Davison assured that officers are informed about individuals subject to these ordinances.
“We make sure precincts are aware of who is subject to SOAP and SODA,” she said. “This is key to enforcement.”
In conclusion, Davison reiterated the commitment to keeping Seattle’s streets safer.
“We want to disrupt criminal enterprises and keep our streets safer,” she shared. “We rely on our officers and aim to support them in their duties.”
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