If a proposed ordinance passes at the next meeting, Washington’s City Council will expand the number of city officials who will have the power to write citations for violation of city regulations.
Besides police officers, citation power would be given to members of the fire department, the building commissioner and code enforcement officers, animal control officials, and officials in the waste and storm water departments. Animal Control Officer Beth Trousdale told the council that on several occasions police officers would be called from other business to write a citation. Trousdale also said there were problems with police officers writing citations for violations they did not personally witness.
While the council seemed generally supportive of the ordinance, they were amused by some of the outdated regulations still on the books. Council President Alan Brown pointed out that spitting on the sidewalk, playing games in the park, and having a picnic without a permit were violations of city regulations. Brown remarked that it might be time to examine the city code and remove some of the out-dated statutes
