Washington § 9A.16.120 - Outdoor music festival, campground — Detention.

Full text of Washington Revised Code of Washington § 9A.16.120 — Outdoor music festival, campground — Detention., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 9A.16.120. Outdoor music festival, campground — Detention.

(1) In a criminal action brought against the detainer by reason of a person having been detained on or in the immediate vicinity of the premises of an outdoor music festival or related campground for the purpose of pursuing an investigation or questioning by a law enforcement officer as to the lawfulness of the consumption or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs, it is a defense that the detained person was detained in a reasonable manner and for not more than a reasonable time to permit the investigation or questioning by a law enforcement officer, and that a peace officer, owner, operator, employee, or agent of the outdoor music festival had reasonable grounds to believe that the person so detained was unlawfully consuming or attempting to unlawfully consume or possess, alcohol or illegal drugs on the premises.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Illegal drug" means a controlled substance under chapter 69.50 RCW for which the person detained does not have a valid prescription or that is not being consumed in accordance with the prescription directions and warnings, or a legend drug under chapter 69.41 RCW for which the person does not have a valid prescription or that is not being consumed in accordance with the prescription directions and warnings.
(b) "Outdoor music festival" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.108.020, except that no minimum time limit is required.
(c) "Reasonable grounds" include, but are not limited to:
(i) Exhibiting the effects of having consumed liquor, which means that a person has the odor of liquor on his or her breath, or that by speech, manner, appearance, behavior, lack of coordination, or otherwise exhibits that he or she has consumed liquor, and either:
(A) Is in possession of or in close proximity to a container that has or recently had liquor in it; or
(B) Is shown by other evidence to have recently consumed liquor; or
(ii) Exhibiting the effects of having consumed an illegal drug, which means that a person by speech, manner, appearance, behavior, lack of coordination, or otherwise exhibits that he or she has consumed an illegal drug, and either:
(A) Is in possession of an illegal drug; or
(B) Is shown by other evidence to have recently consumed an illegal drug.
(d) "Reasonable time" means the time necessary to permit the person detained to make a statement or to refuse to make a statement, and the time necessary to allow a law enforcement officer to determine the lawfulness of the consumption or possession of alcohol or illegal drugs. "Reasonable time" may not exceed one hour.
[ 2003 c 219 s 1.]

Source: official Washington text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington § 9A.16.120

What does Revised Code of Washington § 9A.16.120 cover?

Section 9A.16.120 ("Outdoor music festival, campground — Detention.") is part of the Revised Code of Washington, the codified statutory law of Washington. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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Is this the official text of Washington law?

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How does Washington § 9A.16.120 apply to my situation?

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