7.48.078 - Moral nuisance -- Judgment -- Penalties -- Disposal of personal property. - Washington Statutes

Moral nuisance — Judgment — Penalties — Disposal of personal property.

If the existence of a nuisance is admitted or established in an action as provided for in RCW 7.48.058 or in a criminal proceeding, an order of abatement shall be entered as a part of the judgment in the case, which order shall direct the removal from the place of all personal property and contents used in conducting the nuisance and not already released under authority of the court as provided for in RCW 7.48.066 and 7.48.068, and shall direct the sale of such thereof as belong to the defendants notified or appearing, in the manner provided for the sale of chattels under execution. Lewd matter shall be destroyed and shall not be sold.

     Such judgment shall impose a penalty of three hundred dollars for the maintenance of such nuisance, which penalty shall be imposed against the person or persons found to have maintained the nuisance, and, in case any owner or agent of the building found to have had actual or constructive notice of the maintenance of such nuisance, against such owner or agent, and against the building kept or used for the purposes of maintaining a moral nuisance, which penalty shall be collected by execution as in civil actions, and when collected, shall be paid into the current expense fund of the county in which the judgment is had.

     Such order shall also require the renewal for one year of any bond furnished by the owner of the real property, as provided in RCW 7.48.068 or, if not so furnished, shall continue for one year any closing order issued at the time of granting the temporary injunction, or, if no such closing order was then issued, shall include an order directing the effectual closing of the place against its use for any purpose and keeping it closed for a period of one year unless sooner released.

     The owner of any place closed and not released under bond may then appear and obtain such release in the manner and upon fulfilling the requirements provided in RCW 7.48.068.

     Owners of unsold personal property and contents so seized must appear and claim the same within ten days after such order of abatement is made, and prove innocence to the satisfaction of the court of any knowledge of such use thereof, and that with reasonable care and diligence they could not have known thereof. If such innocence is established, such unsold personal property and contents shall be delivered to the owner, otherwise it shall be sold as provided in this section. For removing and selling the personal property and contents, the officer shall be entitled to charge and receive the same fees as he would for levying upon and selling like property on execution; and for closing the place and keeping it closed, a reasonable sum shall be allowed by the court.

[1979 c 1 § 15 (Initiative Measure No. 335, approved November 8, 1977).]