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City of Vancouver, Washington

Vancouver Municipal Code

Return to Chapter 2.20 POLICE DEPARTMENT

Section 2.20.030 Special police officers.

    a.    Authority.  Pursuant to Art. XI, section 11 of the state constitution, RCW 35.22.610, and City Charter section 1.04 and section 3.03, the city manager or his or her designee may appoint city employees as special police officers.

    b.    Special police officer.  A special police officer means a city employee who has been granted a limited law enforcement or police commission by the city manager or his or her designee to enforce some or all of the following non-criminal laws specified in this section:

    1.    RCW 46.16.088, as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, concerning illegally transferred license plates, so long as such license plates do not involve stolen property;

    2.    Impounds of unauthorized vehicles under RCW chapter 46.55, as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, and other impound situations authorized by local ordinance;

    3.    RCW 46.55.113(2)(b), as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, concerning the impound of vehicles in the public right of way that obstruct traffic or pose a threat to public safety;

    4.    RCW 46.55.113(2)(f), as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, concerning the impound of vehicles in violation of disabled parking laws or regulations;

    5.    RCW 46.55.113(2)(h), as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, concerning the impound of vehicles in specially designated parking zones;

    6.    Abatement and removal or disposal of junk vehicles or parts thereof under RCW chapter 46.55, as adopted by VMC 9.02.010, and the abatement and removal or disposal of junk and inoperable vehicles or parts thereof authorized by local ordinance;

    7.    All local, non-criminal laws or regulations concerning stopping, standing, or parking contained in the VMC, including, but not limited to, all state laws or regulations concerning stopping, standing or parking adopted by VMC 9.02.010.

    c.    Special police officers shall enforce the provisions in VMC 2.20.030(b), according to the directives of the chief of police or his or her designee within the Vancouver Police Department.

    d.    All special police officers appointed under this chapter shall be referred to as "limited commissioned law enforcement officers", and special police officers shall represent themselves to the public as "limited commissioned law enforcement officers."
    e.    In the course of performing their duties, special police officers are prohibited from carrying firearms and from making any arrest.

    f.    The authority conferred upon special police officers in this section shall not vest any such officer with any police civil service or police pension rights. (Ord. M-3242 § 1, 1996)

(M-3655 Section 1, Amended, 06/07/2004, Prior Text)