Washington § 70.74.400 - Seizure and forfeiture.

(1) Explosives, improvised devices, and components of explosives and improvised devices that are possessed, manufactured, delivered, imported, exported, stored, sold, purchased, transported, abandoned, detonated, or used, or intended to be used, in violation of a provision of this chapter are subject to seizure and forfeiture by a law enforcement agency and no property right exists in them.

(2) The law enforcement agency making the seizure shall notify the Washington state department of labor and industries of the seizure.

(3) Seizure of explosives, improvised devices, and components of explosives and improvised devices under subsection (1) of this section may be made if:

(a) The seizure is incident to arrest or a search under a search warrant;

(b) The explosives, improvised devices, or components have been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state in an injunction or forfeiture proceeding based upon this chapter;

(c) A law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the explosives, improvised devices, or components are directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety; or

(d) The law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the explosives, improvised devices, or components were used or were intended to be used in violation of this chapter.

(4) A law enforcement agency shall destroy explosives seized under this chapter when it is necessary to protect the public safety and welfare. When destruction is not necessary to protect the public safety and welfare, and the explosives are not being held for evidence, a seizure pursuant to this section commences proceedings for forfeiture, which proceedings are governed by chapter 7.120 RCW.

(5) If the items seized are forfeited under this statute, the seizing agency shall dispose of the explosives by summary destruction. However, when explosives are destroyed either to protect public safety or because the explosives were forfeited, the person from whom the explosives were seized loses all rights of action against the law enforcement agency or its employees acting within the scope of their employment, or other governmental entity or employee involved with the seizure and destruction of explosives.

(6) This section is not intended to change the seizure and forfeiture powers, enforcement, and penalties available to the department of labor and industries pursuant to chapter 49.17 RCW as provided in RCW 70.74.390.

Application—Effective date—2025 c 306: See notes following RCW 7.120.010.

Severability—2002 c 370: See note following RCW 70.77.126.

Severability—1993 c 293: See note following RCW 70.74.010.