WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

70.96A.190 - Criminal laws limitations.

Criminal laws limitations.

(1) No county, municipality, or other political subdivision may adopt or enforce a local law, ordinance, resolution, or rule having the force of law that includes drinking, being an alcoholic or drug addict, or being found in an intoxicated condition as one of the elements of the offense giving rise to a criminal or civil penalty or sanction.

(2) No county, municipality, or other political subdivision may interpret or apply any law of general application to circumvent the provision of subsection (1) of this section.

(3) Nothing in this chapter affects any law, ordinance, resolution, or rule against drunken driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals, or other similar offense involving the operation of a vehicle, aircraft, boat, machinery, or other equipment, or regarding the sale, purchase, dispensing, possessing, or use of alcoholic beverages or other psychoactive chemicals at stated times and places or by a particular class of persons; nor shall evidence of intoxication affect, other than as a defense, the application of any law, ordinance, resolution, or rule to conduct otherwise establishing the elements of an offense.

[1989 c 270 § 32; 1972 ex.s. c 122 § 19.]