Snohomish passes tougher rules for behavior in parks

Published 12:07 am Sunday, March 8, 2009

SNOHOMISH — Cause trouble in a Snohomish city park and police might ban you for up to a year.

Snohomish police now have the power to exclude troublemakers from parks after the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance amending the park code Tuesday. The changes go into effect Friday.

Those banished from parks don’t have to be charged, tried or convicted of any crime, according to the revised code. Being spotted by an officer is enough. So is being the focus of a citizen complaint that police find credible.

The City Council also approved beefed-up penalties for drinking or possessing alcohol in parks. Likewise, the new law makes it a misdemeanor offense to enter a park when it is closed, or to trespass after being ordered to stay away.

The changes came about because of problems with homeless people sleeping and drinking alcohol in the city parks, City Manager Larry Bauman said.

“It’s in response to what we perceive as a growing use of our parks by the homeless,” he said.

Parks near the riverfront trail such as Klahaya Park and Cady Park have had the worst problems.

City police needed a tool with teeth to deal with repeat offenders in city parks, said Snohomish police chief John Turner.

Before, officers could do little other than issue tickets to people drinking in the park.

“If they were drinking in the park, what they might do is wad it up and not pay attention,” he said. “If they wad up a criminal citation, a warrant is issued.”

The ordinance was modeled after a similar law in Everett. It uses a stair-step approach to punishment. In Snohomish, first-time offenders get banished for a week. Second-time offenders get 90 days. A third strike could get someone banned from city parks for a year.

The penalty for ignoring the exclusion notices is a fine up to $1,000 and or 90 days in jail.

People who want to protest being banned from city parks can seek a hearing with the city hearing examiner.

Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.