Law targeting drug-related criminal activities passed by city council

Legislation marks another major achievement for the council’s work on public safety

Today, the Seattle City Council passed the creation of Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA), which gives courts the authority to prohibit a defendant from entering a designated area of ​​the city if he or she commits a drug-related offense in that zone. The bill, filed in partnership with City Attorney Ann Davison, provides additional ways to reduce excessive and overt drug-related criminal activity in key public areas.

“Our neighborhoods have been struggling for too long. We need to start with those who need it, but this bill will help us rebuild our communities for neighbors, residents, small business owners and workers who have suffered from the crime that comes with illegal drug activity,” said Councilmember Bob Ketel (District 7), who also chairs the Public Safety Committee. “This legislation uses a data-driven approach to achieve the goals outlined in our Strategic Framework plan. I’m grateful for the support our legislation has received from the community and my colleagues, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to make Seattle safer.”

The initially proposed SODA zones included areas in Downtown Seattle (Belltown) and the International District. On September 10, the legislation passed the Public Safety Committee by a vote of 5-0. The bill was amended to add additional areas in Belltown, Capitol Hill, the University District, and Pioneer Square.

“Criminal behavior can no longer be tolerated on our streets. This legislation sends a strong message to the public that this council has heard their demands for stronger safety measures. It is illustrative of our council’s commitment to working closely with constituents to develop public policy that is backed by data. This policy is carefully tailored to the key hotspots in our city, where we know dangerous drugs like fentanyl are particularly prevalent in our communities,” said Councilmember Rob Saka (District 1).

“Over the past two years, I have heard loud and clear from law enforcement that they need new legal tools to disrupt the open-air criminal drug market in many parts of our city, and the tragedy of human trafficking on Aurora Avenue North,” said City Attorney Davison“I have worked on and advocated for these two new ordinances to answer that call. I look forward to working with the Seattle Police Department on strategic enforcement to help impacted neighborhoods and protect vulnerable victims. Thank you to the Seattle City Council for stepping up to the plate at this time.”

“We absolutely must do more to disrupt the drug market in the city centre,” said the Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9). “This bill provides an additional tool to do just that, while implementing the recommendation in the City Auditor’s report that we take a place-based approach to drug-related crime to make the best use of our limited police and humanitarian resources.”

Background

The approval of both the SODA legislation and the council members on Tuesday Cathy Moores (District 5) Stay Out of Area Prostitution (SOAP) law, which combats commercial sexual exploitation and associated gun violence, marks another significant public safety achievement for the council. This work over the past few months includes:

Additional background information on SODA, including the full text of the bill, is available in the documentation provided to the Council.

Next steps

If the mayor signs the new law, it will come into effect 30 days after the date of its signing.

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