OFFENSES AGAINST GOVERNMENTAL ORDER

SEA-MC tit. 12A, subtit. I, ch. 12A.16

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.010 Obstructing a public officer

12A.16.010 - Obstructing a public officer A. A person is guilty of obstructing a public officer if, with knowledge that the person obstructed is a public officer, he or she: 1. Intentionally and physically interferes with a public officer; or 2. Intentionally hinders or delays a public officer by disobeying an order to stop given by such officer; or 3. Intentionally refuses to cease an activity or behavior that creates a risk of injury to any person when ordered to do so by a public officer; or 4. Intentionally destroys, conceals, or alters or attempts to destroy, conceal, or alter any material that he or she knows the public officer is attempting to obtain, secure, or preserve during an investigation, search, or arrest; or 5. Intentionally refuses to leave the scene of an investigation of a crime while an investigation is in progress after being requested to leave by a public officer; or 6. Intentionally refuses to leave the scene of a fire department emergency response while it is in progress after being requested to leave by a public officer when the person's conduct or presence hinders, delays, or compromises legitimate fire department actions or rescue efforts; threatens the safety of fire department personnel or members of the public; or attempts to incite others to violence by intentionally advocating or directing imminent violence toward a specific person or group, when it is likely that such advocacy or direction will imminently result in actual violence toward that person or group. B. Hindering, delaying, or compromising one's own medical treatment shall not be the basis for a charge under this Section 12A.16.010, when such treatment was being provided by fire department personnel. C. No person shall be convicted of violating this Section 12A.16.010 if the public officer was not acting lawfully in a governmental fashion. D. No person shall be convicted of violating this Section 12A.16.010 if the person was obstructing their own medical treatment, when such treatment was being provided by fire department personnel. E. For purposes of this Section 12A.16.010, a "public officer" means those individuals responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of the Seattle Municipal Code, including provisions related to fire, building, zoning, and life and safety codes; those individuals empowered to make arrests for offenses under the Seattle Municipal Code; those individuals responsible for the enforcement of the federal or state criminal laws; or a firefighter or other employee of a fire department who was performing his or her official duties at the time of the obstruction. F. Obstructing a public officer is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 126814, § 1, 2023; Ord. 117158, § 2, 1994; Ord. 114635, § 8, 1989; Ord. 110701, § 1, 1982; Ord. 109674, § 14, 1981 [numbering update]; Ord. 108814, § 10, 1980; Ord. 102843, § 12A.20.020, 1973.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.020 Hindering law enforcement

12A.16.020 - Hindering law enforcement A. As used in this Section 12A.16.020, "detention facility" means any place used for the confinement of a person: 1. Arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime; 2. Charged with being or adjudicated to be a juvenile offender, as defined in RCW 13.40.020; 3. Held for extradition or as a material witness; 4. Otherwise confined pursuant to an order of a court, except an order under chapter 13.32A or 13.34 RCW; or 5. In any work release, furlough, or other such facility or program. B. As used in this Section 12A.16.020 "relative" means a person who: 1. Is related as husband, wife, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, stepchild, or stepparent to the person of whom the actor intends to prevent, hinder, or delay the apprehension or prosecution; and 2. Does not hinder law enforcement in one or more of the means defined in subsections 12A.16.020.C.4, 12A.16.020.C.5 or 12A.16.020.C.6. C. A person is guilty of hindering law enforcement if with, intent to prevent, hinder, or delay the apprehension or prosecution of another person who he or she knows has committed a crime or juvenile offense, is being sought by law enforcement officials for the commission of a crime or juvenile offense, or has escaped from a detention facility, he or she: 1. Harbors or conceals such person; or 2. Warns such person of impending discovery or of apprehension; or 3. Provides such person with money, transportation, disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension; or 4. Prevents or obstructs, by use of force, deception, or threat, anyone from performing an act that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or 5. Conceals, alters, or destroys any physical evidence that might aid in the discovery or apprehension of such person; or 6. Provide such person with a weapon. D. Except as provided by subsection 12A.16.020.E, hindering law enforcement is a gross misdemeanor. E. Hindering law enforcement is a misdemeanor if: 1. The person of whom the actor intends to prevent, hinder, or delay the apprehension or prosecution has committed or is being sought for a class B felony, a class C felony, an equivalent juvenile offense, or violation of parole, probation, or community supervision and it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the actor is a relative; or 2. The person of whom the actor intends to prevent, hinder, or delay the apprehension or prosecution has committed a gross misdemeanor or a misdemeanor. (Ord. 123633, § 9, 2011; Ord. 117156, § 3, 1994; Ord. 102843, § 12A.20.050, 1973.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.030 Escape

12A.16.030 - Escape A. "Official detention" means: 1. Restraint pursuant to a lawful arrest for an offense or an order of a court; 2. Lawful confinement in a jail; or 3. Custody for purposes incident to the foregoing including but not necessarily limited to: a. Transportation; or b. Medical diagnosis or treatment; or c. Court appearances; or d. Work and recreation. B. A person is guilty of escape if, without lawful authority, the person intentionally removes himself or herself from official detention or fails to return to official detention following temporary leave granted for a specified purpose or limited period. C. Escape is a misdemeanor, except that if the person has one or more prior convictions for escape under subsection 12A.16.030 or escape third degree under RCW 9A.76.130, then escape is a gross misdemeanor. (Ord. 124949, § 8, 2015; Ord. 102843 § 12A.20.080, 1973.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.040 False reporting

12A.16.040 - False reporting A. A person is guilty of false reporting if he or she: 1. Initiates or circulates a written or oral report or warning of an alleged or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, crime, catastrophe, or emergency knowing that such report contains false information and knowing that such report is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or transportation facility, to cause substantial public inconvenience or alarm, or to cause an emergency response; or 2. Knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant. "Material statement" means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of his or her official powers or duties; or 3. Makes a verbal statement relating to a crime, catastrophe, or emergency to a Seattle Police officer or a 911 emergency operator, knowing that such statement contains a misstatement of a material fact; or 4. Gives false written or oral identification to a Seattle Police officer when such officer is investigating a crime or possible crime, executing a search or arrest warrant, issuing a citation or notice of infraction, issuing a parks exclusion notice under Section 18.12.278, or making an arrest, knowing that such identification is false. B. For the purposes of this Section 12A.16.040, "emergency response" means any action to protect life, health, or property by: 1. A peace officer or law enforcement agency of the United States, the State of Washington, or a political subdivision of the State of Washington; or 2. An agency of the United States, the State of Washington, or a political subdivision of the State of Washington, or a private not-for-profit organization that provides fire, rescue, or emergency medical services. C. Any criminal offense committed under subsection 12A.16.040.A may be deemed to have been committed either at the place from which the false report was made, at the place where the false report was received by law enforcement, or at the place where an evacuation, public inconvenience or alarm, or emergency response occurred. D. Nothing in this subsection 12A.16.040.A will be construed to: 1. Impose liability on a person who contacts law enforcement for the purpose of, or in connection with, the reporting of unlawful conduct; 2. Conflict with 47 U.S.C. § 230 of the Communication Decency Act; or 3. Conflict with 42 U.S.C. § 1983 of the Civil Rights Act. (Ord. 126691, § 28, 2022; Ord. 126233, § 17, 2020; Ord. 125254, § 11, 2017; Ord. 124301, § 32, 2013; Ord. 122789, § 11, 2008; Ord. 109674, § 15, 1981; Ord. 108814, § 5, 1980; Ord. 102843, § 12A.20.110, 1973.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.050 Resisting arrest

12A.16.050 - Resisting arrest A. A person is guilty of resisting arrest if he or she intentionally prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer from lawfully arresting him or her. B. Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor. (Ord. 114635, § 9, 1989; Ord. 109674, § 16, 1981 [numbering update]; Ord. 108814, § 8, 1980 [added § 12A.20.010 to Ord. 102843, 1973].)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.060 Unlawful interference with a police dog or horse

12A.16.060 - Unlawful interference with a police dog or horse A. "Police dog" or "police horse" means any dog or horse used or kept for use by a peace officer in discharging any legal duty or power of his or her office. B. A person commits the crime of unlawful interference with a police dog or horse if, acting without the permission of the police department or other agency or person owning the police dog or horse, he or she intentionally provokes with the intent to cause fear or anger, physically mistreats, or attempts to injure any police dog or horse. (Ord. 122789, § 12, 2008; Ord. 113479, § 1, 1987 [replaced entire text]; Ord. 109674, § 17, 1981 [numbering update]; Ord. 109190, § 1, 1980 [added § 12A.20.070 to Ord. 102843, 1973].)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.070 Disarming a law enforcement or corrections officer.

12A.16.070 - Disarming a law enforcement or corrections officer. A person is guilty of disarming a law enforcement officer if, with intent to interfere with the performance of the officer's duties, the person attempts to knowingly remove a firearm or weapon from the person of a law enforcement officer or corrections officer or attempts to knowingly deprive a law enforcement officer or corrections officer of the use of a firearm or weapon, when the officer is acting within the scope of the officer's duties, does not consent to the removal, and the person has reasonable cause to know or knows that the individual is a law enforcement or corrections officer. (Ord. 124301, § 33, 2013)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.080 Bail jumping

12A.16.080 - Bail jumping A. A person is guilty of bail jumping if he or she is released by court order or admitted to bail. has received written notice of the requirement of a subsequent personal appearance before the court or of the requirement to report to a correctional facility for service of sentence, and fails to appear or fails to surrender for service of sentence as required. B. It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subsection 12A.16.080.A that uncontrollable circumstances prevented the person from appearing or surrendering, and that the person did not contribute to the creation of such circumstances by negligently disregarding the requirement to appear or surrender, and that the person appeared or surrendered as soon as such circumstances ceased to exist. C. Bail jumping is a misdemeanor. (Ord. 126691, § 29, 2022; Ord. 124684, § 19, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 12A.16.100 Contempt of court

12A.16.100 - Contempt of court A. A person is guilty of contempt of court when he or she intentionally: 1. engages in disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior toward the judge while holding the court, tending to impair its authority, or to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceedings; 2. disobeys a lawful judgment, decree, order, or process of the court; 3. refuses as a witness to appear, be sworn, or, without lawful authority, to answer a question; or 4. refuses, without lawful authority, to produce a record, document, or other object. B. If a complaint charging a person with contempt of court is filed by the city attorney at the request of a judge presiding in an action or proceeding to which a contempt relates, that judge shall be disqualified from presiding at the trial. If the alleged contempt involves disrespect to or criticism of a judge, that judge is disqualified from presiding at the trial unless the person charged consents to the judge presiding at the trial. C. A person found guilty of contempt of court under this section may be punished for each separate contempt of court by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 364 days, or both. (RCW 7.21.010; 7.21.040) (Ord. 124684, § 20, 2015.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT12ACRCO_SUBTITLE_ICRCO_CH12A.16OFAGGOORFetched: 11/1/2026