Court Opinion

ID: 9793041
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:41:09.756746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:03:08.973641
License: Public Domain

Rosellini, J.
(concurring in the result) — Although I concur in the result reached by the majority, I do not subscribe to the rationale applied in disposing of the appellant’s contention that the ordinance violates her privilege against self-incrimination. It seems to me that the simple answer to the contention is that the ordinance does not place any duty or obligation upon the person charged to explain his conduct but merely permits him .to do so if he chooses. There is no compulsion involved. If the appellant had made a self-incriminating statement without having first been warned of her right to remain silent, such statement would not have been admissible against her. Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 16 L. Ed. 2d 694, 86 S. Ct. 1602, 10 A.L.R.3d 974 (1966).
I do not see the applicability of the quoted language from Miranda v. Arizona, supra, and am of the opinion that to quote a statement of the Supreme Court of the United States which was directed to another question entirely (that of the right of police to question witnesses to a crime) tends to becloud the disposition of the issue before the court.
The majority opinion also creates the impression that the court sees no possible ambiguity in Seattle City Code 12.49.010(g). I do find an ambiguity therein, but I don’t think it renders the section unenforceable according to its manifest intent. The act forbidden is loitering for the purpose of inducing, enticing, soliciting or procuring “another to commit an act of prostitution.” The import of this language is that it is directed, not against loitering for the purpose of soliciting by prostitutes but rather against loitering for the purpose of soliciting of prostitutes. If this were the intent of the ordinance in fact, the appellant would not be guilty under this section. However, I think the remainder of the section makes it clear that it was the legislative purpose to punish the described kind of loitering *633by prostitutes and that the section is, therefore, not too vague for enforcement.