SB 6130 & HB 2394 Would Grant More LE Authority to Liquor Officers MAJOR CHANGE

[bigtex]

Unofficial word is this bill will pass out of the committee. Sounds like out of the four current/former law enforcement officers who sit on the committee (and all are Republican) there may be one against the bill. The bill had bipartisan support last year.

I actually watched the hearing as I was in Olympia for other reasons. Some things I noticed that differed from this years hearing and last year's:
- Last year the Skamania County Sheriff testified against the bill and basically pulled the "this attacks the sheriff's authority" line which didn't sit too well for him and he basically got booed out of the building, his reputation in Olympia was ruined in many eyes by some of the things he said. This year the Pierce County Sheriff testified and he was more politically correct he basically just said leave the LCB handling liquor, tobacco and drug crimes. So very similar to how some people want WDFW to just do fish and wildlife.
- There was a lot more questioning done of LCB LE staff this year by the committee members. A lot of hypothetical situations asked where their LE authority is and isn't. Seemed like many members where shocked just how little LE authority they have.

WASPC (the group which represents the actual Sheriff's and Chief's) was there in opposition. WACOPS (which represents all LEOs from the newest recruit to the recent retiree) is in favor of the bill.

WASPC and WACOPS are kind of in a battle for power right now. Both are big LE endorsements so politicians don't want to lose these group's endorsements. The former WACOPS President is a House Public Safety Committee member and current LEO. It sounds like WASPC is starting to lose their ground/fight in these types of bills as it's becoming obvious the only reason they oppose them is giving more LE authority to the state (aka a turf war).

[bigtex]

I just talked to a friend who is very well connected to WASPC and he said that out of the three agencies (DNR, Liquor Control, State Parks) that have been seeking full LE authority WASPC is least concerned with DNR getting full LE authority. He didn't give me an exact reason but I think the following are probably reasons:

1- Some or all DNR LEOs are commissioned as county deputies already in 25 counties
2- DNR LE currently consists of 12 LE personnel, compared to about 80 with Liquor (which are slated for 20 more officers) and about the same with Parks
3- Almost all DNR LEOs are former WSP Troopers

[bigtex]

There has been a major change to the House Bill. Both bills as written would grant LCB Officers as general authority (full) law enforcement officers. The substitute bill would keep LCB Officers as limited authority but would grant these officers to enforce the following RCW Chapters in addition to their current authority:

RCW 9 (Crimes and Punishments
RCW 9A (Criminal Code)
RCW 46 (Traffic)

The general consensus a the hearing is that something needed to be done this year. It looks like this is a step towards that.

[trophyhunt]

Why traffic?  I still don't like this bill at all, like said earlier, too many wanna b cops already.  And I have tons of respect for the good ones!

[bigtex]

Why traffic?  I still don't like this bill at all, like said earlier, too many wanna b cops already.  And I have tons of respect for the good ones!

DUI, Reckless, and Aggressive Driving right in front of LCB Officers

LCB Officers have always said almost every night they see someone stumble out of a bar, get in their car and drive away. No authority right now to do anything. Give them traffic authority and they can pull over the DUI in front of them.

To me, this is a good medium point. I'd still prefer general authority because there are some of those random offenses that can occur in front of these officers yet they still wont have authority. As an example, under this legislation the officers still wouldn't have authority over someone smoking a cigarette in a bar, or someone smoking medical marijuana in public.

These aren't "wanna b cops" they already have statewide arrest authority, firearms, and patrol vehicles. To me, a "wanna b cop" is a security guard.

[trophyhunt]

I just wouldn't want an over zealous LCB guy pulling me over for going 5 over the speed limit cause now he can,  I agree with you about the drunk getting into their car.  The other wanna be's I think of is the state park azz in mnt Rainer park that eye balls me cause my tires are loud and he thinks I'm going 2 miles over the speed limit up there.  It seems they really enjoy letting us know they have a gun now and can write us tickets. 


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[iusmc2002]

Why don't they just commission ALL of the people in the state, then, when some hypothetical situation occurs where we see someone drunk driving or blah, blah, blah, we can pull them over?  That way we wouldn't have to bother calling real LE to do it.  What's next?  State reps make/enact laws, why not just let them enforce them?  That's not too much overreach is it?  I mean, they're already involved with the laws in some way, so why not just broaden the scope a tiny bit? 
What the hell is the point of having all these separate agencies, that do the same damn thing, but have to have their own admin sections and directors?  If they have the same job, put them under ONE agency, with ONE name, with ONE director and save the state a little money....

They work for LCB.  Let them worry about LCB business..... You know damn well it will turn into a revenue generator before long.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.  More LEO=more needing justification to have/keep them.  Then what?  I just don't understand why people think MORE outside control of their lives is a good thing?!

[bigtex]

I just wouldn't want an over zealous LCB guy pulling me over for going 5 over the speed limit cause now he can,  I agree with you about the drunk getting into their car.  The other wanna be's I think of is the state park azz in mnt Rainer park that eye balls me cause my tires are loud and he thinks I'm going 2 miles over the speed limit up there.  It seems they really enjoy letting us know they have a gun now and can write us tickets.

You may want to get your facts straight. State Parks don't work at Mount Rainier, those are federal LE Rangers. They have had LE authority (firearms and arrests) since around 1915.

State Park Rangers have always had law enforcement authority, they just weren't required to wear firearms until 1994, however they could always have had personal firearms.

Also, LCB has no plans to get Radar/Lidar.

[trophyhunt]

Ok, the guys in the green trucks that work on chinook pass.


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[bigtex]

 
What the hell is the point of having all these separate agencies, that do the same damn thing, but have to have their own admin sections and directors?

It's how it works everywhere.

I've already said the idea of all state law enforcement personnel having full LE authority is not new, it's how it's done in most states. WA is a rarity when it comes to still having limited authority state agencies.

Something like 85% of the state liquor enforcement agencies in the US have full authority LE officers.

It was mentioned at the hearing, even Utah which is a big anti-state, ant-fed LE state has full authority liquor officers. I also know they have statewide full authority state parks and wildlife officers. Several years ago I was driving through Utah and saw a Utah wildlife officer make a traffic stop on the state hwy.

[bigtex]

Ok, the guys in the green trucks that work on chinook pass.

Well both Forest Service and National Park Service law enforcement officers have white patrol vehicles.

The only people driving green rigs I am guessing are USFS personnel who aren't law enforcement. USFS does give some non-LE personnel authority to write tickets for like fees and fires but they don't have firearms or make traffic stops....

[trophyhunt]

Weird, I swear the guys in green trucks have people pulled over more times than not when ever I go over that pass. I may be wrong on the exact color of the truck.


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[bigtex]

Weird, I swear the guys in green trucks have people pulled over more times than not when ever I go over that pass. I may be wrong on the exact color of the truck.

Ya Forest and Park Service only have white LEO vehicles. There are some green USFS LEO vehicles but they are only on the Mexico border so they don't get confused with Border Patrol.

[trophyhunt]

green truck


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[trophyhunt]

Weird, I swear the guys in green trucks have people pulled over more times than not when ever I go over that pass. I may be wrong on the exact color of the truck.

Ya Forest and Park Service only have white LEO vehicles. There are some green USFS LEO vehicles but they are only on the Mexico border so they don't get confused with Border Patrol.

oh, I'm not sure where this pic was taken. It's on their web site.