Chapter 9.68
INTERFERENCE WITH HEALTH CARE FACILITIES OR PROVIDERS

Sections:

9.68.010    Definitions.

9.68.020    Interference with health care facilities.

9.68.030    Penalty.

9.68.040    Informational picketing.

9.68.050    Protection of health care patients and providers.

9.68.060    Construction.

9.68.010 - Definitions

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

A.    "Health care facility" means a facility that provides health care services directly to patients, including but not limited to, a hospital, clinic, health care provider’s office, health maintenance organization, diagnostic or treatment center, neuropsychiatric or mental health facility, hospice, or nursing home.

B.    "Health care provider" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 7.70.020 (1) and (2), and also means an officer, director, employee, or agent of a health care facility who sues or testifies regarding matters within the scope of his or her employment.

C.    "Aggrieved" means:

1.    A person, physically present at the health care facility when the prohibited actions occur, whose access is or is about to be obstructed or impeded;

2.    A person, physically present at the health care facility when the prohibited actions occur, whose care is or is about to be disrupted;

3.    The health care facility, its employees, or agents;

4.    The owner of the health care facility or the building or property upon which the health care facility is located.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996).

9.68.020 - Interference with health care facilities

It is unlawful for a person except as otherwise protected by state or federal law, alone or in concert with others, to willfully or recklessly interfere with access to or from a health care facility or willfully or recklessly disrupt the normal functioning of such facility by:

A.    Physically obstructing or impeding the free passage of a person seeking to enter or depart from the facility or the common areas of the real property upon which the facility is located;

B.    Making noise that unreasonably disturbs the peace within the facility;

C.    Trespassing on the facility or the common areas of the real property upon which the facility is located;

D.    Telephoning the facility repeatedly, or knowingly permitting any telephone under his or her control to be used for such purpose; or

E.    Threatening to inflict injury on the owners, agents, patients, employees, or property of the facility or knowingly permitting any telephone under his or her control to be used for such purpose.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996)

9.68.030 - Penalty

A violation of Section 9.68.020 is a gross misdemeanor. A person convicted of violating Section 9.68.020 shall be punished as follows:

A.    For a first offense, a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars and a jail term of not less than twenty-four consecutive hours;

B.    For a second offense, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars and a jail term of not less than seven consecutive days; and

C.    For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and a jail term of not less than thirty consecutive days.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996).

9.68.040 - Informational picketing

Nothing in Section 9.68.020 shall prohibit either lawful picketing or other publicity for the purpose of providing the public with information.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996).

9.68.050 - Protection of health care patients and providers

The court shall take all steps reasonably necessary to safeguard the individual privacy and prevent harassment of a health care patient or health care provider who is a party or witness in a proceeding, including granting protective orders.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996)

9.68.060 - Construction

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the right to seek other available criminal or civil remedies. The remedies provided in this chapter are cumulative, not exclusive.

(Ord. 5620 §1, 1996).