KCSO Improper Signage

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Here you can see the entrance to the administrative part of the Kitsap County Sheriff's office (in Port Orchard); you know the part with full public access through the WHOLE building where you go to get fingerprints for licenses and such. Not to be confused with the Kitsap County Court House which is right next door. The picture isn't perfect but on the door it says "Weapons are prohibited within this building". There is no check point, no metal detector, no security. I sent email to the Sheriff's office and to the Attorney General's office stating I believe this to be in violation of RCW 9.41.290 and 9.41.300(1)a-b. What do you guys think?

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I'd say you are absolutely correct, although 9.41.290 would only apply if they actually have an ordinance. OTW, 9.41.300 applies. The public access areas for conducting business are not included as restricted areas.

RCW 9.41.300Weapons prohibited in certain places — Local laws and ordinances — Exceptions — Penalty.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon:

(a) The restricted access areas of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (i) arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense, (ii) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (iii) 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;

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NavyLT, I'd say the department doesn't have the authority to ban firearms in the whole building, regardless of whether they screen or not. Says so right in 9.41.300 1(a): "Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public".

The only reason they get away with it in Tacoma's County-City Building is that the building also has a court facility that's spread over several floors and by any rational evaluation the only practical way to secure the court facility is to secure the entire building. (See 9.41.300 1(b).) But note especially that this paragraph (b) is only talking about courts: there's no provision at all for law-enforcement entities to say, "It's too hard to secure the restricted-access parts of our facility, so we'll secure the whole building."

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If I remember correctly, the sheriff's office is attached to the court house. The office in Silverdale does not have that signage. The main entrance to the court house has the required lock boxes. I think they are operating correctly.

That being said, across the street at the admin building, there is a no weapons sign on the front door, and that building is not attached to the court house. I know of one member here who has walked passed the sign into the admin building and conducted business without any problems.

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Ajetpilot wrote:

If I remember correctly, the sheriff's office is attached to the court house. The office in Silverdale does not have that signage. The main entrance to the court house has the required lock boxes. I think they are operating correctly.

That being said, across the street at the admin building, there is a no weapons sign on the front door, and that building is not attached to the court house. I know of one member here who has walked passed the sign into the admin building and conducted business without any problems.

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except that the only portion of the building that is off limits per state law is those portions deemed restricted access. They can't prohibit the whole building if that area is not a restricted access area. If they are restricting firearms from the public access areas then they are in violation of state law.

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I just got this email from KCSO. :celebrate

The sign has been removed. Thanks for bringing this error to our attention. It had been in place for a long time and no one seemed to notice.

Thanks again!
Dennis Bonneville, Undersheriff

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Wow!

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I thought you could not carry in police station

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fire suppressor wrote:

I thought you could not carry in police station

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I just met with a deputy chief and city attorney here in Bellingham openly carried even back to the office we had our meeting in. Of course they are trying to be on their best behavior right now.

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sudden valley gunner wrote:

fire suppressor wrote:

I thought you could not carry in police station

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I just met with a deputy chief and city attorney here in Bellingham openly carried even back to the office we had our meeting in. Of course they are trying to be on their best behavior right now.

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Something tells me there's a story there.

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RCW 9.41.300:
(1) It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon:

(a) The restricted access areas of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (i) arrested for, charged with, or convicted of an offense, (ii) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (iii) 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;

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I stand corrected I apologies. I guess no matter how hard we all try we all will have a few RCWs backwards. Great information!