Opinion ID: 1155949
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: constitutionality of rcw 70.96a

Text: [1] The plaintiffs first contend that partial summary judgments against them on the issue of the constitutionality of RCW 70.96A were improper because defendants did not sustain their burden of proof as to the absence of genuine issues of material facts. That burden as to facts is upon the moving party. LaPlante v. State, 85 Wn.2d 154, 158, 531 P.2d 299 (1975). The more appropriate inquiry is whether the constitutional issue was properly raised by a CR 56 motion for summary judgment. A challenge to the constitutionality of a statute may be raised by a motion for summary judgment. See Kinnear v. Hertz Corp., 86 Wn.2d 407, 418, 545 P.2d 1186 (1976). See also Annot., Raising Constitutionality of Legislation by Motion for Summary Judgment, 83 A.L.R.2d 838 (1962). Obviously there is a potential difference when a statute is attacked as being unconstitutional on its face as compared to as applied. Usually there will be no material facts as to a facial challenge. Here, there is a challenge on both grounds. We rule only on the facial challenge. The summary judgment is proper as to that. 6 J. Moore, Federal Practice ¶ 56.17[10] (1985). We have allowed such actions without analysis on this point. Hoppe v. State, 78 Wn.2d 164, 469 P.2d 909 (1970); Sator v. Department of Rev., 89 Wn.2d 338, 572 P.2d 1094 (1977). As to the constitutionality of RCW 70.96A as applied, we cannot determine that issue on this record. The plaintiffs allege that they, individually, were not within the terms of the statute. The defendants presented no material to contest those allegations. A statute constitutional on its face may violate constitutional rights in its application. See, e.g., Cox v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 536, 13 L.Ed.2d 471, 85 S.Ct. 453 (1965); Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356, 30 L.Ed. 220, 6 S.Ct. 1064 (1886). On this record neither the trial court nor this court knows whether those allegations are true; therefore, we cannot determine the unconstitutionality as applied issue and must remand thereon. Turning to the facial constitutionality of the statute, the plaintiffs argue that the statute is vague and overly broad. Therefore, we must analyze pertinent portions of the statute. RCW 70.96A is patterned after, but different from, in some respects, the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act (1971). We are concerned with RCW 70.96A.120(2): [A] person who appears to be incapacitated by alcohol and who is in a public place or who has threatened, attempted, or inflicted physical harm on another, shall be taken into protective custody by the police or the emergency service patrol and as soon as practicable, but in no event beyond eight hours [be] brought to an approved treatment facility for treatment. The definition of incapacitated by alcohol is contained in RCW 70.96A.020(7) as follows: [t]hat a person, as a result of the use of alcohol, has his judgment so impaired that he is incapable of realizing and making a rational decision with respect to his need for treatment and constitutes a danger to himself, to any other person, or to property; ... A person meeting those conditions may not be detained after he or she is no longer so incapacitated, or more than 48 hours, if still incapacitated, unless a petition is filed under RCW 70.96A.140. RCW 70.96A.120(4). Thus, by the statute's language the elements which trigger protective custody are: (1) a person whose judgment is so impaired by alcohol that he is incapable of realizing and making a rational decision with respect to his need for treatment; and (2) who constitutes a danger to himself, another person, or property; and (3) is in a public place, or (4) has threatened, attempted or inflicted physical harm on another. [2] The statute is presumed constitutional; one who challenges it must demonstrate its invalidity beyond a reasonable doubt. Bellevue v. State, 92 Wn.2d 717, 719, 600 P.2d 1268 (1979). We find the statute to be neither overly broad nor vague. [3-5] Due process is the linchpin of both overbreadth and vagueness. One involves substantive due process; the other  vagueness  implicates procedural due process. Blondheim v. State, 84 Wn.2d 874, 878, 529 P.2d 1096 (1975). On the issue of overbreadth, i.e., substantive due process, does the statute fail? Is it so broadly drawn that it may prohibit constitutionally protected activity as well as unprotected behavior? State v. Yancy, 92 Wn.2d 153, 157, 594 P.2d 1342 (1979). At best, plaintiffs' analysis of this issue is imprecise and without relevant authority. There is no discussion of the standard of scrutiny by which we should judge the overbreadth issue. Even by a strict standard we find sufficient societal and, therefore, governmental interest to justify this statute. Societal interest in dealing with the continuing concerns about alcohol abuse and its concomitant consequences are a matter of common and judicial knowledge. Consistent with that interest, the protective custody provisions of RCW 70.96A.120 are narrowly drawn so as to reach only certain individuals incapacitated by alcohol and in need of treatment  that is, persons whose intoxicated condition renders them dangerous to themselves or others. Under these circumstances, the State's interest is sufficiently compelling to outweigh the temporary deprivation of liberty occasioned by application of the statute. Plaintiffs rely heavily upon Opinion of the Justices, 339 A.2d 510 (Me. 1975). To understand the case is to distinguish it. The court there considered the constitutionality of protective custody provisions of a proposed alcoholism treatment act which would have permitted detention of those persons who either: (1) appeared to be incapacitated by alcohol, or (2) were disorderly as a result of the use of alcohol, or (3) were likely to cause or incur harm to themselves or others because of alcohol use. Opinion of the Justices, at 517-18. The court found that the first category failed to distinguish between private intoxication and public intoxication. The court also found that under the second and third categories, influence to a minor degree could trigger custody. The court correctly held the proposed statute to be overly broad. It has no application to our statute. The issue of vagueness raises the procedural due process requirements of fair notice to citizens and clear standards to prevent arbitrary enforcement of laws. State v. Maciolek, 101 Wn.2d 259, 264, 676 P.2d 996 (1984). Here, the statute is rather specific and contains reasonably clear guidelines. A person must appear to be incapacitated by alcohol. A definition is provided with two components: judgment so impaired by alcohol that a decision as to the need for treatment is incapable of being made and dangerousness  to himself, others, or property. In addition, the person must be in a public place or have threatened, attempted or inflicted physical harm on another. The arguments in plaintiffs' brief ignore these rather specific criteria. They conclude that the statute is extremely vague and can lead to broad and unfettered discretion on the part of law enforcement officials. Suffice it to say we are unpersuaded as to either an overbreadth or vagueness defect.