Court Opinion

ID: 9604173
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:15:59.642566+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:19.000878
License: Public Domain

Munson, J.
(concurring specially) — I concur with this opinion except the statement that RCW 69.50.435 "describes a special drug offense". Standing alone, RCW 69.50.435 does not establish a crime, i.e., an offense. In criminal law, an *883offense is generally considered to be a felony or misdemeanor infringing upon public rights as distinguished from private rights. The offense here, which triggers the application of RCW 69.50.435, is a violation of RCW 69.50.401(a). RCW 69.50.435 prescribes an additional penally if one meets the elements set forth therein, namely that an offense described in RCW 69.50.401(a) is committed within a certain distance from one of the prescribed locations or vehicles. It further prescribes an additional penalty by a fine or imprisonment "up to twice" those penalties otherwise authorized in RCW 69.50.
We held in State v. Lica, 62 Wn. App. 34, 43, 813 P.2d 588, review denied, 117 Wn.2d 1025 (1991) that the doubling applies to the maximum penalty for drug related crimes. The application of RCW 69.50.435 is discretionary with the sentencing judge. However, the Legislature has amended RCW 9.94A.310(5) to require a mandatory additional 24 months to be added to a presumptive sentence for any ranked offense violating any portion of RCW 69.50.
With that caveat, I concur in the affirmance.
Review denied at 121 Wn.2d 1031 (1993).