10.78.100 Firearms prohibited in certain places—Exceptions—Penalty.
A. It is unlawful for any person to enter the following places when he or she knowingly possesses or knowingly has under his or her control a weapon:
1. The restricted access area of a jail, or of a law enforcement facility, or any place used for the confinement of a person (a) arrested for, charged with or convicted of an offense, (b) held for extradition or as a material witness, or (c) otherwise confined pursuant to an order of a court, except an order under Chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress or ingress open to the general public;
2. Those areas in any building which are used in connection with court proceedings, including courtrooms, jury rooms, judge’s chambers, offices and areas used to conduct court business, waiting areas, and corridors adjacent to areas in connection with court proceedings. The restricted areas do not include common areas of ingress and egress to the building that is used in connection with court proceedings, when it is possible to protect court areas without restricting ingress and egress to the building. The restricted areas shall be the minimum necessary to fulfill the objection of this subsection. The municipal court shall post notices that weapons are prohibited in the building;
3. The restricted access areas of a public mental health facility certified by the Department of Social and Health Services for inpatient hospital care and state institutions for the care of the mentally ill, excluding those facilities solely for evaluation and treatment. Restricted access areas do not include common areas of egress and ingress open to the general public; or
4. That portion of an establishment classified by the State Liquor Control Board as off-limits to persons under twenty-one years of age.
B. The perimeter of the premises of any specific location covered by subsection A of this section shall be posted at reasonable intervals to alert the public as to the existence of any law restricting the possession of firearms on the premises.
C. Subsection A of this section does not apply to:
1. A person engaged in military activities sponsored by the federal or state governments, while engaged in official duties;
2. Law enforcement personnel, except that subsection (A)(2) of this section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is present at a courthouse building as a party to an action under Chapter 10.14, 10.99, or 26.50 RCW, or an action under RCW Title 26 where any party has alleged the existence of domestic violence as defined in RCW 26.50.010; or
3. Security personnel while engaged in official duties.
D. Subsection (A)(1) of this section does not apply to a person licensed pursuant to RCW 9.41.070 who, upon entering the place or facility, directly and promptly proceeds to the administrator of the facility or the administrator’s designee and obtains written permission to possess the firearm while on the premises or checks his or her firearm. The person may reclaim the firearms upon leaving but must immediately and directly depart from the place or facility.
E. Subsection (A)(3) of this section does not apply to any administrator or employee of the facility or to any person who, upon entering the place or facility, directly and promptly proceeds to the administrator of the facility or the administrator’s designee and obtains written permission to possess the firearm while on the premises.
F. Subsection (A)(4) of this section does not apply to the proprietor of the premises or his or her employees while engaged in their employment.
G. Any person violating subsection A of this section is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
H. “Weapon” as used in this section means any firearm, explosive as defined in RCW 70.74.010, or instrument or weapon listed in RCW 9.41.250. (Ord. 2790-04 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1641-89 §§ 3, 4, 1989.)