Post by: bigtex on January 21, 2015, 09:08:14 AM
-Prior to 2012 Liquor Control Board Officers could only enforce alcohol and some tobacco laws
-Marijuana initiative allowed LCB Officers to enforce all drug laws found under RCW 69.50, such as cocaine, meth, etc
-2013 the LCB Officer's union spearheaded a bill that would give LCB Officers full police officer authority. The bill passed out of the House Public Safety Committee but got held up in a budget committee
-2014 the LCB as an agency requested the legislature give LCB Officers full police officer authority. The bill was later amended to only give LCB Officers additional authority over general crimes as found in RCW 9 and 9A and traffic offenses.
TODAY
SB 5399 was introduced by Senators Conway, Rivers, and Hasegawa as requested by the LCB. The bill is similar to the end result of last year's amended bill. LCB officers would only gain authority over RCW 9, 9A (general crimes) and 46 (traffic). They will remain as limited authority peace officers.
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5399.pdf (http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5399.pdf)
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 10:30:52 AM
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 11:13:13 AM
Are the State Liquor Agents required to be graduates of a certified State Police Academy?Yup.
All newly hired Liquor Enforcement Officers (haven't been called agents in about 15 years) attend the same academy as deputies and city officers. Most officers are actually retired troopers, city cops, or deputies.
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 11:23:17 AM
All "Newly Hired Officers" what about the existing inventory, when do they head out to Police academy and at what expense?
Sorry I worded it wrong. They all have been. Those who are former troopers didn't go to the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) they went to a WSP academy. But this is the same for any agency in WA. Every LCB Officer has gone through some form of an academy. Those newly hired go through the same one as everyone else (except WSP).
There is no $ impact to this bill.
Post by: Special T on January 22, 2015, 12:14:10 PM
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 12:15:53 PM
Didnt they try this bill last year? year before?
If you read the original post you can see there is a difference between the past bills. From what I understand this bill will continue to be brought up every year until it passes.
Post by: whacker1 on January 22, 2015, 12:38:02 PM
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
Post by: Caseyd on January 22, 2015, 12:50:49 PM
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 02:55:42 PM
what would be the pro / con arguments?Right now say a LCB Officer is in a bar and a fight breaks out. The LCB Officer has no more legal standing to break up the fight and detain or arrest someone in this situation then a common citizen. The reason is because an assault, even in a bar, is not an alcohol, tobacco, or drug violation. In fact in this situation the LCB Officer could go arrest a bartender/security guard for allowing the fight to happen rather than actually arresting the aggressor in the fight. So you think of all the general crimes that occur inside or near establishments that sell alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and realistically not many of those things are under the alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana laws.
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
On the traffic side if an LCB Officer is driving down the road behind an aggressive driver, potential DUI, etc all they can do is call 911 and report it. They can't initiate their lights and pull them over.
What this law would do is allow the LCB Officer to pull over the DUI driver, arrest the guy in the bar fight, arrest the drunk guy outside the club who punched his girlfriend, etc.
These are state officers with full law enforcement academies, vehicles with lights and are dispatched by WSP. They just can't do anything outside of alcohol, tobacco, and drug violations.
I've been in favor of this idea for years.
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 02:56:29 PM
Soon to be the states second biggest agency:yeah:
All because the legalization of marijuana and privatization of liquor sales.
Post by: whacker1 on January 22, 2015, 04:08:08 PM
what would be the pro / con arguments?Right now say a LCB Officer is in a bar and a fight breaks out. The LCB Officer has no more legal standing to break up the fight and detain or arrest someone in this situation then a common citizen. The reason is because an assault, even in a bar, is not an alcohol, tobacco, or drug violation. In fact in this situation the LCB Officer could go arrest a bartender/security guard for allowing the fight to happen rather than actually arresting the aggressor in the fight. So you think of all the general crimes that occur inside or near establishments that sell alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and realistically not many of those things are under the alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana laws.
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
On the traffic side if an LCB Officer is driving down the road behind an aggressive driver, potential DUI, etc all they can do is call 911 and report it. They can't initiate their lights and pull them over.
What this law would do is allow the LCB Officer to pull over the DUI driver, arrest the guy in the bar fight, arrest the drunk guy outside the club who punched his girlfriend, etc.
These are state officers with full law enforcement academies, vehicles with lights and are dispatched by WSP. They just can't do anything outside of alcohol, tobacco, and drug violations.
I've been in favor of this idea for years.
What does the opposition say?
Post by: bigtex on January 22, 2015, 04:15:13 PM
They can call 911 like anyone else.What does the opposition say?what would be the pro / con arguments?Right now say a LCB Officer is in a bar and a fight breaks out. The LCB Officer has no more legal standing to break up the fight and detain or arrest someone in this situation then a common citizen. The reason is because an assault, even in a bar, is not an alcohol, tobacco, or drug violation. In fact in this situation the LCB Officer could go arrest a bartender/security guard for allowing the fight to happen rather than actually arresting the aggressor in the fight. So you think of all the general crimes that occur inside or near establishments that sell alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and realistically not many of those things are under the alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana laws.
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
On the traffic side if an LCB Officer is driving down the road behind an aggressive driver, potential DUI, etc all they can do is call 911 and report it. They can't initiate their lights and pull them over.
What this law would do is allow the LCB Officer to pull over the DUI driver, arrest the guy in the bar fight, arrest the drunk guy outside the club who punched his girlfriend, etc.
These are state officers with full law enforcement academies, vehicles with lights and are dispatched by WSP. They just can't do anything outside of alcohol, tobacco, and drug violations.
I've been in favor of this idea for years.
Realistically all it does it tie up resources from two agencies when the situation can be handled by one. In the example of the fight the LCB Officer would have to call an outside agency to arrest the guy, the LCB Officer would have to write a witness statement, etc. In comparison to just going over grabbing the guy and arresting him.
Realistically it's just a pissing match between some sheriff's who don't want another agency with more authority over something. In no way does it remove sheriff's from having authority, realistically it's just another officer on the street who can help out. There's LCB Officers working at 2:30 AM where there are no troopers, city officers, or county deputies working because that area doesn't have 24/7 coverage. Wouldn't it be nice just for the LCB Officer just to handle the situation themselves.
Most states have realized that if you guy a guy a badge, gun, lights, etc and call them a law enforcement officer then they should be able to enforce all laws. Utah and Texas are obviously very conservative states, both have full authority liquor enforcement officers. Even in this bill passes it wont give LCB Officers full police authority. Yes agencies can have their focus, such as WDFW on fish and wildlife. But why give someone all the tools and then say well you can only really enforce 10% of the laws and all the other stuff you have to turn a blind eye to? That's the situation LCB Officers are in right now.
Post by: whacker1 on January 22, 2015, 07:06:08 PM
Post by: Eli346 on January 23, 2015, 03:41:03 PM
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on January 23, 2015, 04:51:49 PM
Post by: Crunchy on January 23, 2015, 06:17:46 PM
Soon to be the states second biggest agency:yeah:
All because the legalization of marijuana and privatization of liquor sales.
i doubt second biggest. maybe top 5
Post by: bigtex on January 23, 2015, 08:55:59 PM
I believe Casey is speaking in terms of state agencies (WSP, DNR, WDFW, etc.)i doubt second biggest. maybe top 5Soon to be the states second biggest agency:yeah:
All because the legalization of marijuana and privatization of liquor sales.
If he is, then yes the LCB is looking to be the second largest state LE agency in WA in a couple years. They will soon pass WDFW.
Post by: dreamunelk on January 23, 2015, 09:25:03 PM
what would be the pro / con arguments?Right now say a LCB Officer is in a bar and a fight breaks out. The LCB Officer has no more legal standing to break up the fight and detain or arrest someone in this situation then a common citizen. The reason is because an assault, even in a bar, is not an alcohol, tobacco, or drug violation. In fact in this situation the LCB Officer could go arrest a bartender/security guard for allowing the fight to happen rather than actually arresting the aggressor in the fight. So you think of all the general crimes that occur inside or near establishments that sell alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and realistically not many of those things are under the alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana laws.
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
On the traffic side if an LCB Officer is driving down the road behind an aggressive driver, potential DUI, etc all they can do is call 911 and report it. They can't initiate their lights and pull them over.
What this law would do is allow the LCB Officer to pull over the DUI driver, arrest the guy in the bar fight, arrest the drunk guy outside the club who punched his girlfriend, etc.
These are state officers with full law enforcement academies, vehicles with lights and are dispatched by WSP. They just can't do anything outside of alcohol, tobacco, and drug violations.
I've been in favor of this idea for years.
One of any office trying to break up a bar fight would be a bad idea. Two or more against one.
Just don't think this bill is a good idea. Best to keep them focused on what they do. When they feel the need for back up they can arrange for it. Just don't think we need another enforcement agency will full power. With out extra training it would cause a lot of issues. Effectively they would have to invest a lot of dollars in additional training.
I think the LB dose a good job at what they do. Keep them focused!
Post by: bigtex on January 23, 2015, 09:49:31 PM
They don't get full power under this bill. That's what's different between the 2013/2014 bills and the 2015 one. Like I already said, they get the same training that deputies, city cops, and WDFW officers get. If you went to the state LE academy in Burien right now you'd see LCB Officers sitting right next to city and county officers.One of any office trying to break up a bar fight would be a bad idea. Two or more against one.what would be the pro / con arguments?Right now say a LCB Officer is in a bar and a fight breaks out. The LCB Officer has no more legal standing to break up the fight and detain or arrest someone in this situation then a common citizen. The reason is because an assault, even in a bar, is not an alcohol, tobacco, or drug violation. In fact in this situation the LCB Officer could go arrest a bartender/security guard for allowing the fight to happen rather than actually arresting the aggressor in the fight. So you think of all the general crimes that occur inside or near establishments that sell alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and realistically not many of those things are under the alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana laws.
I need help understanding where each perspective is coming from and the need to make the change.
On the traffic side if an LCB Officer is driving down the road behind an aggressive driver, potential DUI, etc all they can do is call 911 and report it. They can't initiate their lights and pull them over.
What this law would do is allow the LCB Officer to pull over the DUI driver, arrest the guy in the bar fight, arrest the drunk guy outside the club who punched his girlfriend, etc.
These are state officers with full law enforcement academies, vehicles with lights and are dispatched by WSP. They just can't do anything outside of alcohol, tobacco, and drug violations.
I've been in favor of this idea for years.
Just don't think this bill is a good idea. Best to keep them focused on what they do. When they feel the need for back up they can arrange for it. Just don't think we need another enforcement agency will full power. With out extra training it would cause a lot of issues. Effectively they would have to invest a lot of dollars in additional training.
I think the LB dose a good job at what they do. Keep them focused!
So for you it's ok for the DUI driver in front of the LCB Officer to drive off the road and kill someone? Because hey they work for the LCB and shouldn't have authority to do traffic?
Post by: Westside88 on January 23, 2015, 10:01:47 PM
Post by: bigtex on January 23, 2015, 10:10:35 PM
These LCB officers have academy traing, a badge and a gun. They should have authority to intervene when necessary. They have enough work load, they won't be out trying to cover other agency's responsibilities. I believe they should be able to help when needed within an appropriate scope of their training:yeah:
I completely agree. The LCB is under the spotlight right now, especially pertaining to marijuana. So I, nor anyone expect that if this bill were to pass you'd see LCB Officers looking for every petty violation out there just because they can. They want/need it for the serious stuff that they encounter all the time.