HomeMy WebLinkAbout4391ORDINANCE NO. 439L
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, amending Chapter 9.42 of
the Kent City Code, entitled "Unlawful Race
Attendance," to amend the definition of "unlawful
race event" to include activities involving the
reckless operation of vehicles other than traditional
side-by-side racing.
RECITALS
A. On June 5,2OO!, the City of Kent became the first municipality in
Washington, and possibly the nation, to pass an ordinance that makes it a
crime to attend an illegal street race in certain areas of the City and permits
a judge to order those convicted of illegal street racing to stay out of certain
areas of the City designated as no racing zones. Other municipalities in the
south King County region followed suit by passing similar ordinances. Kent's
ordinance can be found in chapter 9.42 KCC.
B. Street racing has been a criminal activity for decades. In some cases,
many hundreds of people attend these illegal events. While police face
challenges in catching racers in the act of racing, this ordinance targets
attendance at these events as opposed to just the act of racing' These codes
have proven effective in reducing the incidents of illegal street racing and
the attendance of spectators at illegal street racing events.
C. Street racing events typically occur at night, draw large crowds, and
are associated with criminal behaviors. Street racing has been associated
ll nlawful race Attendance
Definition Amendment
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with violent crime including homicide, property damage, and large
quantities of refuse left behind. The events are also dangerous to both
drivers and spectators.
D. Those who organize illegal street racing events tend to be well-
connected through social media, and street racing behaviors continue to
evolve. While racing continues to be a main attraction of these events, the
events also have included drifting whereby cars are purposely slid around
corners. Moreover, the illegal racing community has been known to take
over private parking lots and roadways and intersections to perform
burnouts and donuts where cars are slid in a circular motion in close
proximity of spectators, other vehicles, and public facilities.
E. The City Council finds that it is in the interest of the public health,
safety and welfare to amend the Kent City Code to include within the
definition of an "unlawful racing event" reckless vehicular activities other
than traditional side-by-side racing'
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT,
WASHINGTON, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
ORDINANCE
iE?TION 7, - Amendment - section 9.42.070. section 9.42.OLO of
the Kent City Code, entitled "Definitions," iS amended as follows:
Sec. 9.42.O10. Definitions. Unless the context clearly requires
otherwise, the definitions in this section shall apply throughout this chapter.
A. Pubtic place means an area, whether publicly or privately owned,
generally open to the public and includes, without limitation, the doorways
and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them,
streets, sidewalks, bridges, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, and parking
lots.
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Definition Amendment
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B. IJntawful race event means an event wherein persons willfully
compare or contest relative speeds by operation of one (1) or more motor
ys6;61ss or wherein persons willfully demonstrate, exhibit, or comPare
r
traction
SECTION 2, - Severability. If any one or more section, subsection,
or sentence of this ordinance is held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance
and the same shall remain in full force and effect.
9EOTION 3, - Corrections bv city clerk or code Reviser. Upon
approval of the city attorney, the city clerk and the code reviser are
authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including the
correction of clerical errors; ordinance, section, or subsection numbering; or
references to other local, state, or federal laws, codes, rules, or regulations'
SECTION 4. - Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect and be
in force 30 days from and after its passage.
DANA RALPH, MAYOR
February 16. 2021
Date Approved
0
KOMOTO,RK
February 16, 2021
Date Adopted
February 19. 2021
Date Published
3 ll nlawful race Attendance
Definition Amendment
KIMBE
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ARTHUR "CITY ATTORNEY
4 Il n lawful race Ai*endance
Detlnition Amendment
.Cldssified Proof
- City of Kent, CitY Clerk - LEGAL ADS
Fourth.Ave S
qA, 98032
- Legal Notices
- Jennifor Tribbett
856-5728
KIMKOMOTO
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CITY OF KENT
NOllCE OF
ORDINANCES
PASSED BY THE CITY
COUNCIL
The following ate sum-
maries of ordinances
oassed bv the Kent CitY
bouncil oh February 16,
2021.
ORDINANCE NO. 4390
-AN ORDINANCE ofthe
Citv Council of the CitY
of kent, Washington' aP-
proving the change of in-
ilirect control of Astound
Broadband, LLC, a Fran-
chisee of the CitY.
This ordinance shall take
effect and be in force 30
davs from and after its
pa6sage. as provided bY
law.
ORDINANCE NO. 439{
-AN ORDINANCE of the
Citv Council of the CitY
of ' Kent, Washington,
am€nding ChaPter 9'42
of the Kent CitY Code'
entitled "Unlawful Race
Attendance," to amend
the definition of .unlawful
race event" to include
activities invotuing the
reckless ooeration of ve-
hicles oth'er than tradi-
tional side-bY-side rac-
ino.
Ttiis ordinance shall iake
effect and be in force 30
days from and after its
tst8?,ti""t No. 43e2
-AN ORDINANCE ofthe
Citv Council of the CitY
of ' Kent, Washington'amendinq sections
5.01.040- and 5.01'045
of the Kent CitY Code to:
(i) orovide a business li-
i6nsing exemPtion for
vendors who contract
with ihe CitY as Part -ofan event or Program la-
cilitated by, or for a ser-
vice orovided to, the
Recreition and Cultural
SeNices Division of the
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City's Parks Department,
and (ii) to make a house-
keeping change to grouP
an existing gxemption
with this new exemPtion
within section 5.01.045
of ihe Kent City Code.
This ordinance shall take
effect and be in force 30
days from and after its
oassaoe.h cooi of the complete
text df'any ordinanci will
be mailed upon request
of the City Clerk.
Kimberley A. Komoto,
Citv Clerk
Kkirmoto@KentWA.gov
253456-5725
#919752
a19t21
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