Seattle passes $27 fine for public pot smoking
Dec 16, 2013, 6:04 PM | Updated: 6:25 pm
The Seattle City Council has unanimously approved a $27 fine for public pot smoking. But don’t expect cops to suddenly start writing a bunch of tickets.
The new law calls for police to warn people and educate them about the law “whenever possible” before issuing citations.
The $27 fine is the same as that for drinking alcohol in public. It will take effect 30 days after signed into law by the mayor.
“The best long-term protection for legal marijuana is to move forward responsibly. Setting a reasonable fine, noting officers will be giving warnings, and studying the impacts strikes a good balance,” said Councilmember Nick Licata, chair of the Housing, Human Services, Health and Culture committee.
A police spokesman tells the Seattle Times most people “are probably going to get several free passes.”
Sgt. Sean Whitcomb says officers will do all they can to avoid issuing citations unless they identify repeat offenders who ignore the warnings.
“The beauty of it is going to be relying on officer knowledge and discretion who know the lay of the land and who the violators are and this will give them a tool for enforcement,” Whitcomb said.
The Seattle Police Department has considered personal marijuana use and possession a low priority under official policy even before voters approved I-502, legalizing marijuana.
