Amazon Agrees to $2.25 Million Settlement and Injunction to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order against Amazon.com Inc., in a case investigated and referred to the Department by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

The order resolves allegations that Amazon violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and it requires Amazon to pay a $2.25 million civil penalty and follow practices that protect consumers whose identities have been stolen.

In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the government alleged that Amazon violated FCRA by failing to provide identity theft victims with requested records of transactions involving people believed to have fraudulently used those victims’ identification, and by failing to provide those records within 30 days of a request. 

The court’s stipulated order resolving the case imposes a $2.25 million civil penalty and requires Amazon to provide its records of transactions alleged to have been the result of identity theft to victims who request them, free of charge within 30 days of the request, subject to verification of the victim’s identity and claim of identity theft. 

Amazon must also post a notice to its website informing identity theft victims of how they can request those records.

“Consumers whose identities have been stolen should not face unnecessary red tape when they investigate how their identities were misused and seek to clear their names,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

“The Justice Department will continue working with the Federal Trade Commission to protect identity theft victims.”

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Justices on the ballot

By Diane Hettrick

The Washington State Supreme Court has 5 of its 9 seats on the ballot for this year's election. I always find it daunting to vote for judges because of the lack of real information about the candidates. I still mourn the loss of the VotingForJudges.org site that the Washington Bar Association used to publish.

It would list the candidate and link to endorsements and articles, without making a recommendation.

I started to recreate their work and gave up pretty quickly. But I was shocked at the clear division that immediately emerged.

I received a list of endorsements from the Washington State Republican party. I found the Seattle Times endorsements. There were no matches between the two. I tried unsuccessfully to find endorsements from the Washington State Democrats, so I checked the local organizations. Again there were no matches.

There is an interesting page with history of each candidate's rise to office: Full Court Press click the link that says "See the races"

The League of Women Voters of Washington conducted interviews with each candidate, which can be viewed here.

Here's what I found:

Position 1:

 

Scott Edwards WAGOP

Laura Christensen Colberg WAGOP

Colleen Melody Seattle Times 32nd Dem 1st Dems

Position 3

David Stevens WAGOP

Jaime Hawk 32 Dem 1st Dem

J. Michael Diaz Seattle Times 32 Dem 1st Dem

Position 5:

Dave Larson WAGOP

Theo Angelis 32 Dem 1st Dem

Sharonda Amamilo Seattle Times

Greg Miller

Position 7: 

Todd Bloom WAGOP

Debra Stevens Seattle Times 32 Dem 1st Dem

Karim Merchant

David Shelvey

Position 4, will appear on the November general election ballot.

Ian Burke 

Sean O'Donnell 

Because only two candidates filed for Position 4, they will not appear on the primary ballot. 

For voters looking to learn more about the candidates and the court, Full Court Press has launched a dedicated website resource at www.wasupremecourt.org. - Click the box that says "See the Races."

Additionally, because judicial races are non-partisan, only races with three or more candidates appear on a Primary ballot 

For the Superior Court, if a single candidate files, they are deemed elected after candidate filing ends in May.

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The Washington Supreme Court and The Rule of Law - presentation July 15, 2026 at Third Place Commons

Photo courtesy Washington Courts

THE WASHINGTON STATE SUPREME COURT AND THE RULE OF LAW

• Do you know what role the Washington State Supreme Court Justices play in our lives?

• What is the role of an independent judiciary in our governmental system of checks and balances? 

• What is the rule of law anyway?

These are questions that many voters will have as they consider their primary ballots arriving this month, when 5 of the 9 seats on the Washington State Supreme Court will be on the ballot.

King County Bar Association (KCBA) Vice President Ms. Cynthia B. Jones and
Judge Johanna Bender from the King County Bar Association’s Civics Stewardship program.

The North King County Unit of the League of Women Voters of Seattle King County is sponsoring a public presentation featuring King County Bar Association (KCBA) Vice President Ms. Cynthia B. Jones and Judge Johanna Bender from the King County Bar Association’s Civics Stewardship program.

The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday July 15, 2026 at 6pm in Third Place Commons in the Lake Forest Park Town Center mall at 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The goal of the KCBA Civics Stewardship Program is to enhance understanding of our justice system and its role in the three branches of government.

Ms. Cynthia Jones is a practicing attorney who focuses on civil and criminal appeals in federal and state courts, including the Supreme Court of Washington.

Judge Johanna Bender has served on the King County Superior Court bench since 2015 and is the former Chief Judge of the Maleng Regional Justice Center, Assistant Chief Criminal Judge for the Superior Court and the Lead Judge for the Involuntary Treatment Court. She is currently assigned to hear child welfare cases.

The League of Women Voters of Seattle King County is a nonpartisan organization that does not support any candidates or parties.

Our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy.

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King County District Court 2025 Annual Report

King County District Court recently released its 2025 annual report, highlighting key aspects of court operations and achievements for the past year, including key initiatives, therapeutic courts, and more.

See the complete report here

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Public receiving fraudulent King County District Court hearing notices

This document is a fake

Don't scan the QR code!

This document is a fake

King County District Court has received reports that many people in the community are receiving fraudulent Court hearing notices via text and email (see above).

It is a very convincing looking document, including what appears to be the King County District Court seal, but it is a fake. Clicking on the QR code on the fake notice could open people to harmful, fraudulent financial activity.

What people can do

It is important to respond to legitimate notices from the Court. But, if you have any doubts whether a Court notice is real or not, you can either:

• Contact King County District Court Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Visit our Case Access Portal 24/7 to confirm if you have a ticket in the Court

In the meantime, it is important to NOT scan the QR code on a notice you are not sure is from the Court.

Ways to spot a fraudulent court notice

Although the example below has many items that are faked, the two easiest ways people can tell it is fraudulent are:

• The words in the court seal are gibberish, indicating the image was faked in AI
• Official court notices do not have a QR code to scan to settle an unpaid balance

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During first week of the legislative session, Rep. Lauren Davis introduces three pieces of legislation to reform criminal justice system

Rep. Lauren Davis 32nd LD

OLYMPIA—During the first week of the 2026 session, Rep. Lauren Davis (D-32) introduced three pieces of legislation to reform our criminal justice system.

Helping victims of crime (House Bill 2457)

In 2023, the legislature passed HB 1169, with a commitment to shift the cost of paying for victim advocates who work in prosecutors’ offices from criminal defendants to the state general fund. 

However, the state budget now only covers 25 percent of the prior level of funding, resulting in a 75 percent cut to victim advocacy services.

“The state made a promise not to defund victim services,” Davis said.

“We failed to keep that promise.”

House Bill 2457 would reinstate the Crime Victim Penalty Assessment, while accounting for the reality that up to 80 percent of those convicted of crimes are impoverished and can’t pay the assessment.

Davis’s bill would include an exemption for the indigent and, to make up for that, raise the assessment to $2,000 upon conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor and $1,000 upon conviction of a misdemeanor crime.

The old fee hadn’t been raised since 1995.

Her proposal would also give judges the option to impose a surcharge, between zero and $50,000, for convictions of wealthy defendants.

Preventing youth gun violence (House Bill 2456)

Under current law, a juvenile must be found guilty of possession of a firearm five times before they are committed to the state’s youth prison system, Juvenile Rehabilitation.

“Say that a youth is caught with a gun,” Davis said.

“Overwhelmingly, they are not kept in detention before trial and receive very limited services and no meaningful supervision while out of custody.

"Many months later when the case resolves, if they’re convicted, they receive a maximum of thirty days in detention, a felony on their record, and still no adequate intervention. King County has repeatedly filed homicide and assault 1 charges on juveniles with prior convictions for unlawful possession. Our current approach is not working.”

House Bill 2456 would focus on preventing gun violence and addressing the underlying issues for that juvenile. If the participant immediately agrees to and successfully completes a 12-month program with significant services and intensive supervision, the charges would be dismissed.

“My bill includes evidence-based interventions like multisystemic therapy,” Davis said, “and having case managers work with the kid’s family and school. There would also be random checks of their person and residence to make sure they aren’t carrying a firearm again.”

These services would be funded by a $100 increase in the concealed carry pistol license fee. This fee, Davis said, also hasn’t been raised since 1995.

Court reform (House Joint Resolution 4211)

A proposed constitutional amendment would help address conflicts between the state Supreme Court and the other two branches of government: the Legislature and the executive branch.

Davis said that this proposed constitutional amendment is in response to recent Supreme Court overreach. She cited the Supreme Court lowering indigent defense caseload standards by two-thirds, even though appropriations are a function of the legislative branch, not the judiciary.

“Our system of government relies on checks and balances,” Davis said.

“But when the Supreme Court issues court rules that have the effect of law, there is no check on that power. The state Supreme Court issued a rule broadly barring the issuance of arrest warrants for juveniles, except in the most serious cases. The Court of Appeals rightly recognized that this is the province of the legislature, not the courts, and overturned the court rule.

"But when that case was appealed to the Supreme Court, the justices unsurprisingly upheld their own rule. Our current system affords the Court unchecked power.”

The measure by Davis would create an Interbranch Commission on Court Rules to assess whether proposed court rules violate the separation of powers between the three branches and, if yes, require judges pro tempore, not sitting justices, to make the ruling.

As a constitutional amendment, the measure would need a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate, then ratification by the voters.

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Aging With the Law on Your Side January 6, 2026

We are pleased to invite you to a free educational presentation at Laurel Cove featuring Angela Odensky, Certified Elder Law Attorney, titled:

Aging With the Law on Your Side

Tuesday, January 6, 2026
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Laurel Cove 17201 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

Angela Odensky, an experienced elder law and estate planning attorney, will discuss the most essential legal documents everyone should have in place as they age. 

This informative session will cover how thoughtful planning can help ensure your wishes are honored, support aging with dignity, and help families avoid probate and unnecessary estate taxes.

This presentation is free and refreshments will be provided.

Angela Odensky is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through the National Elder Law Foundation and principal at The Law Office of Angela Odensky. Her practice focuses on Estate Planning, Probate, Elder Law, and Special Needs Planning.

RSVP: 206-900-6016
Email: michael.francart@encorecommunities.com

We hope you’ll join us for this valuable and informative event. Please feel free to share this invitation with family and friends.

Warm regards,
Laurel Cove

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Storage unit thieves caught and released

West Coast Storage

David Rose K13 reported on two prolific thieves who were caught while trying to break into a unit at West Coast Storage at 16523 Aurora in Shoreline on November 20, 2025.

The manager, watching on surveillance camera, called 911 as he saw them trying to break into a unit with a drill. Shoreline Police responded quickly.

The thieves took off running when they saw the patrol car. One was captured immediately on the premises. The other jumped a fence into the U-Haul lot. Police secured the perimeter and brought in K9 Sam who quickly located the second suspect.

King County Prosecutors charged both men with Burglary in the Second Degree. Possession of Burglary Tools and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer. They pleaded not guilty. Judge Tanya Thorp set their bail at $10,000 each.

Christopher Rust

51-year-old Christopher Rust has had 21 warrants for his arrest. 

His convictions include Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Residential Burglary, Car Theft, Identity Theft and Possession of Stolen Property. 

He was released from jail on December 2nd.

43-year-old James Phillips has had 53 prior warrants for his arrest. 

His criminal history includes convictions for multiple thefts and assaults. 

He was released from jail on November 22nd, two days after his arrest. 

Videos and full report on DavidRoseFox13

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Mexican national charged in August robbery spree involving casinos, and U.S. Bank in Shoreline

Federal Detention Center at SeaTac

Seattle – A 32-year-old Mexican national who was residing in Federal Way, Washington was detained Thursday November  at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac. He is charged with robbery and attempted robbery of three tribal casinos and a Shoreline, Washington, bank branch in August 2025. 

Edgar Oswaldo Gonzalez Barragan was arrested by Kent Police just hours after he allegedly robbed the U.S. Bank branch in Shoreline. The bank robbery was the last in a string of robberies or attempted robberies that began on August 1, 2025.

According to records filed in the case, on the evening of August 1, 2025, Gonzalez Barragan allegedly brandished a silver handgun when he approached the cashier window at the Tulalip Quil Ceda Creek Casino and demanded money from the till. The cashier pressed the panic button and refused to hand over any money despite the gunman’s threat to shoot guests. Gonzalez Barragan ran from the scene.

Two days later, on August 3, 2025, Gonzalez Barragan was identified as the person who robbed the Silver Reef Casino on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation in Ferndale, Washington. Again, he allegedly used a silver handgun to demand cash from the cashier. He fled from the casino on foot.

On August 9, 2025, Gonzalez Barragan allegedly attempted to rob the Little Creek Casino on Squaxin Island Tribal land in Shelton, Washington. Gonzalez Barragan is alleged to have removed a gun from his pocket and demanded cash. After the teller told him there was no cash in the till, he ran the from the scene.

Later that same day, the Riverside Fire Authority reported that a $12,000 piece of equipment called the “Jaws of Life” was stolen off their fire truck. Surveillance video helped law enforcement identify a vehicle associated with the theft. Ultimately, law enforcement was able to connect the vehicle with Gonzalez Barragan.

Finally, two days later, August 11, 2025, Gonzalez Barragan walked into the U.S. Bank branch in Shoreline and demanded money. The teller heard what sounded like a large object hit the counter and was fearful the man had a gun. The teller handed him money from the till, and he left. When Gonzalez Barragan was arrested that day, he was wearing the same clothing he wore during the bank robbery.

Cell phone location data and other evidence place Gonzalez Barragan in the vicinity of all the robberies and attempted robberies.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from many law enforcement agencies, including the Kent Police Department, the Ferndale Police Department, the Federal Way Police Department, the Marysville Police Department, the Centralia Police Department,, the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Lummi Nation Police Department, the Tulalip Police Department, the Squaxin Island Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s office, Western District of Washington.

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Washington will receive about $66 million from Philip Morris through a new tobacco-related settlement

Antique Advertising

Washington will receive about $66 million from Philip Morris to resolve lingering disputes between the company and the state related to the landmark multibillion-dollar tobacco settlement reached in 1998.

The agreement with Philip Morris follows another one reached in April of this year between the state and other tobacco companies, including R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Under that settlement, the state received over $277 million from R.J. Reynolds and the other manufacturers to resolve similar disputes.

Washington and 45 other states entered into the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with major tobacco makers in 1998. The settlement imposed major restrictions on the industry’s advertising and marketing, including prohibiting tobacco advertising targeting people younger than 18.

As part of the master settlement, participating tobacco manufacturers pay billions each year to states that reached resolutions with them. Former Attorney General Christine Gregoire played a lead role negotiating the settlement, under which Washington has received roughly $3.8 billion over the years. These payments continue as long as people buy tobacco products from those companies. In exchange, the states agree not to pursue additional suits for health-related damages.

“That 1998 agreement with tobacco companies continues to be a shining example of holding companies accountable for putting profits over people’s health,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “I’m grateful to our team for negotiating these latest settlements for the benefit of our entire state.”

The disputes at issue in the recent settlements with Philip Morris and the other tobacco makers concern one part of the master settlement with regard to enforcing laws against tobacco companies that did not join the MSA. Disputes and arbitrations over this provision have dragged on for years. Some of the money that Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, and the other participating tobacco companies owed to the state was held in an account while the disputes continued.

This year, the manufacturers and the state have agreed that it’s better to reach a resolution and avoid further expense and uncertainty. The money that was held is being released and divided between the state of Washington and the tobacco makers, including this recent settlement with Philip Morris.

The agreement with Philip Morris resolves disputes through the year 2015. Washington and Philip Morris have agreed to arbitrate disputes related to subsequent years.

Assistant Attorneys General S. Todd Sipe and Eric Mentzer and Paralegals Diane Hoosier and Christine Truong worked on the settlement for Washington state.

A copy of the settlement with Philip Morris is available here.

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Shoreline will send prisoners to the new Lynnwood Jail

Lynnwood’s recently built Community Justice Center houses the city’s municipal court, police department, mental health facility and a jail Shoreline will use to incarcerate prisoners (photo Oliver J Moffat)

Shoreline police will be able to send prisoners to the new Lynnwood Jail. Currently, most are imprisoned at the notorious SCORE jail in South King County.

 
By Oliver J Moffat

When someone arrested by Shoreline police is waiting for their initial court appearance or is serving short-term misdemeanor sentences, they are usually sent to the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) Jail in Des Moines.

According to recent reporting by PubliCola, eleven people have died in custody at SCORE jail in the past two years, a rate significantly higher than the national average.

At the Monday, October 27, 2025 meeting, the Shoreline city council approved a contract with the city of Lynnwood for jail services. Shoreline police will be able to send inmates to the Lynnwood jail in addition to the SCORE jail.

A round trip to the SCORE jail is nearly 60 miles from Shoreline and takes well over an hour by car. It often takes four hours for the police to drive down and back to SCORE to complete a jail booking.

Located a short distance from the Lynnwood Transit Center, the new jail is part of the Lynnwood Community Justice Center Project, which also includes the police department, court, and a mental health facility.

A graph from the city of Shoreline shows the number of daily
jail beds used per year tripled from 2,132 in 2021 to 6,575 in 2024. 

Shoreline’s jail costs have skyrocketed as the number of individuals jailed and the length of time they are being incarcerated has increased since historic lows in 2021.

The city says the number of “Daily Jail Beds Used” has more than tripled from 2,132 in 2021 to 6,575 in 2024.

Jail spending has increased from $586,363 in 2021 to $1.35 million in 2024. Shoreline’s 2025-2026 jail budget is about $2.7 million.

According to reporting by the Everett Herald, the Lynnwood jail has faced protests and cost overruns.

Construction for the jail began in 2021 and it opened in 2024. Originally planned to hold 120 prisoners, the jail was scaled back to a capacity of 84 after an inmate died by suicide after her arrest for suspicion of DUI. An independent investigation found officers had left her alone in violation of Lynnwood police policies.

Amidst protests, the city scaled back the size of the jail and added a mental health wing, which is physically ready but vacant because the city has struggled to find an operator and funding. The city recently found an operator and expects to begin operation in early 2026.

A chart from the city of Shoreline shows jail costs have increased from $586,363 in 2021 to $1,351,739 in 2024.

Decades ago, the city of Shoreline sent prisoners exclusively to the King County Jail, but that facility began to run out of space in 2002. Since then, the city has paid to send prisoners to jails in other municipalities such as Yakima and Issaquah.

A 2008 plan to build a new jail at the Aldercrest site in the Ballinger neighborhood failed after opposition from residents.

In 2014, the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail in South King County became Shoreline’s primary jail and booking facility. Shoreline currently sends 98% of its prisoners to SCORE.

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Protection Order Portal helps domestic violence survivors and others apply for protection orders

Leaders with King County’s Protection Order Portal and affiliated program, from left: Collen McIngalls, Children’s Justice Center of King County; Chelle Hunsinger de Enciso, victim advocate; Kelsey Greer, Protection Order Advocacy Program; Leesa Manion, King County Prosecuting Attorney and Leticia Figueroa, Victim Services. Photo courtesy King County

Individuals who fear for their safety — perhaps from a threatening domestic partner, roommate or stalker — might also be afraid to publicly pursue a protection order that can shield them from interactions or harassment from that person.

So a Seattle-area government program and Microsoft partnered to develop an online portal that makes it much easier for an applicant to file the required legal documents with the courts and connects them with an advocate if needed.

The Protection Order Portal is operated by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and has served 17 people per day on average since launching in June 2024.

The completely online process “helps save lives, and it helps people feel more safe in their home environment, in their community, and fewer children are witnesses to domestic violence,” said King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion."

Video explains how to set up an account.

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Track the state lawsuits against the Trump administration

Having trouble keeping tabs on all of the state's court clashes with the federal government? 

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has you covered. His office launched a federal litigation tracker this week. 

As of September 10, 2025 Washington had filed 37 cases against the Trump administration. Brown is leading or co-leading 14 of those lawsuits. 

The total amount of funding at issue in the cases is $14 billion, according to the AG's office. 

You can find the litigation tracker here.

--Washington State Standard

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King County is experiencing a sustained decrease in gun violence

Leesa Manion, King County
Prosecuting Attorney

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion is sharing regular reports detailing the cases filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office each month where a firearm was involved; these charges include cases involving firearm violence. 

In the month of March, our office filed 69 cases based on law enforcement referrals in which firearms were involved.

In addition to these monthly reports, our quarterly and annual reports on shots fired incidences across King County (which are compiled and analyzed through partnership with law enforcement agencies) are available here. 

"Research has consistently shown that firearm violence is intensely concentrated within small, identifiable social networks. Firearms violence spreads within these networks.

"The closer a person is to a victim of firearm violence, the more likely it is to be a victim of firearm violence themselves. Along with our law enforcement partners, our Crime Strategies Unit (CSU) is using data to understand the networks of firearm violence in King County and to identify those individuals who are most at risk of victimization."

Recently, we released our 2025 Q1 report which showed that King County is experiencing a sustained decrease in gun violence; compared to any other first quarter in the past five years, Q1 of 2025 showed that homicides and injuries due to firearms reached low points. 

Year over year, the first quarter of 2025 saw a 35% drop in firearm homicide victims, a 36% drop in nonfatal shooting victims, and a 32% drop in total shots fired incidents. South King County experienced an exceptional decline in overall shots fired, with 37% fewer shots fired incidents in the Q1 of 2025 compared to 2024.

Our office seeks to hold the individuals responsible for gun violence accountable; this report is part of our commitment to sharing the results of our prosecutors’ case filings — which stem from police detectives’ investigations — in a consistent and transparent way.

Detailed report here

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New Law: Right to Appraisal

Gov. Ferguson signing SB 5721 into law

Legislation requiring auto insurance policies to have a right to appraisal provision, so insurers and consumers can reach a fair and timely agreement on the cost of a damaged vehicle’s losses was signed into law Tuesday.

Senate Bill 5721, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford, 1st Legislative District

 provides an unbiased way to resolve disputes, allowing consumers and insurers to avoid costly litigation. Under the legislation, the consumer or insurer can request an appraiser if they can’t agree on the amount of damage or what the damaged car is worth.

“As an insurance customer, I want to know I will be treated fairly when I make an insurance claim,” Stanford said.

“Over the past few years, more insurance estimates are being written by someone merely looking at a picture. Unfortunately, this means customers sometimes face repair bills that far exceed the amount insurance companies offer as payment.”

According to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Washington has seen a historic rise in auto insurance complaints, with 88% related to valuation disputes and claims handling disagreements.

“I want to thank Sen. Stanford for his effort to get this bill passed,” said Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.

“Consumers deserve to have a clear and fair process to follow when there’s a disagreement about their vehicle’s value or the costs to repair it. I’m grateful to the senator for his leadership on this issue that’s important to so many policyholders.”

Rep. Strom Peterson, (D-Edmonds), sponsored the bill’s House version.

“Families need their vehicles to get to work, school events, medical appointments and to shop for basic needs. Insurance companies have agreed to pay for repairs when a car is damaged, and they should be held accountable,” said Peterson.

“This legislation will provide consumers with a manageable path forward to make sure that they are receiving the coverage they paid for.”

The new law will affect auto insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.

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New Law: BEAM Act

King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

Members of our team were proud to join impacted families and advocates for the signing of the BEAM Act earlier this week – legislation that will save lives by allowing speed-limiting devices to be installed in the cars of people who have been convicted of reckless driving or have accumulated three or more moving violations. 

This bill was named after Buster, Eloise, Andrea, and Matilda, four people who were killed in a March 2024 crash near Renton. That deadly crash resulted in a case that was prosecuted by our office, and the defendant recently pled guilty as charged to all felony counts.

In enacting this legislation, Washington becomes one of the first states in the nation to implement this life-saving tool to stop chronic speeders and protect our community.

A special thanks to Representative Mari Leavitt who was this bill's prime sponsor.

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New Law: The Right to Repair bill signed into law

Sen. Derek Stanford - 1st Legislative District

The Right to Repair Act has been signed into law! 

House Bill 1483 (Senate Bill 5423) will require manufacturers to provide consumers and independent repair providers fair and reasonable access to certain parts, tools, and information needed to fix electronic devices. 

If you own an electronic device and it breaks, you should be able to choose to fix it yourself or take it to a local repair shop. 

This legislation will help save families money, allow people to keep their devices working longer, and support small businesses.

I'm grateful to my colleague, Representative Mia Su-Ling Gregerson, for her work on this over the years! 

Learn more here

From Gov. Bob Ferguson

I signed 2 bills today on the right to repair that passed with bipartisan support.

1. HB 1483 ensures the right to repair for electronic products.
2. SB 5680 establishes the right to repair for mobility equipment, like wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Thank you to Representative Mia Su-Ling Gregerson for your work on these bills, as well as Sen. Drew Hansen and Sen. Derek Stanford.

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Ryu’s bill clarifying Hate Crime Law signed by Governor

OLYMPIA – When hate fuels violence, even in part, Washington law will now recognize it for what it is: a hate crime. On Monday, Rep. Cindy Ryu’s (D-Shoreline) bill to strengthen Washington’s hate crime statutes was signed into law. House Bill 1052 helps to ensure justice for victims targeted because of who they are.

The new law clarifies that a person commits a hate crime not only when bias is the sole motive, but also when it is one of multiple motives. This crucial update—changing the standard to include offenses committed “in whole or in part” because of a person’s race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristic—ensures prosecutors can more effectively hold offenders accountable.

“This legislation ensures that hate does not hide behind ambiguity,” said Rep. Ryu. “Too often, violent acts rooted in bigotry go unpunished because the legal threshold was misunderstood. With this change, we make it clear: if hate is any part of your motive, it matters, and it’s a crime.”

The bill was introduced in response to concerns from prosecutors and civil rights advocates that Washington’s previous standard was too narrow, making convictions difficult in many cases. In reality, many hate crimes involve “mixed motives,” and this update reflects the complex nature of these offenses.

“When there is evidence to show that people were victimized by a hate crime — in whole or in part because of a defendant’s bias — those perpetrators must be held accountable. Prosecutors need this legal fix to ensure that happens,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said.

“I appreciate the leadership of Rep. Cindy Ryu and Sen. Manka Dhingra to hold people accountable when they act out from a place of hate.”

HB 1052 passed the House on February 13 with a 61-31 vote and the Senate on April 3 with a 30-19 vote. It was strongly supported by the Anti-Defamation League and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The law will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns.

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WA State Supreme Court upholds ban on high-capacity ammo magazine sales

Photo by petr palocko on unsplash.com

BY: JAKE GOLDSTEIN-STREET

Washington State Standard

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the state’s ban on the sale of gun ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

The law, passed in 2022, faced a challenge from a Kelso gun shop that argued the ban on selling the magazines violates the state constitution, which protects “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state.”

Gator’s Custom Guns also said the law ran afoul of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In a 7-2 ruling, state Supreme Court justices disagreed.

They ruled that high-capacity magazines aren’t “arms,” but just a component of a gun, and are not generally used for self-defense. The ruling tracked with arguments attorneys for the state made before the court in January.

“By restricting only magazines of a capacity greater than 10, the statute effectively regulates the maximum capacity of magazines, leaving the weapon fully functional for its intended purpose,” Justice Charles Johnson wrote in Thursday’s opinion.

“Indeed, we can safely say that individuals are still able to exercise the core right to bear arms when they are limited to purchasing magazines with a capacity of 10 or fewer.”

Justices Sheryl Gordon McCloud and G. Helen Whitener dissented.

Attorneys for Gator’s Custom Guns, including former Republican attorney general candidate Pete Serrano, had argued that the popularity of high-capacity magazines inherently proved they abide by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting firearms that are “in common use” and are “typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.”

In the dissent, Gordon McCloud sided with this argument, writing that millions of people have chosen semiautomatic firearms with high-capacity magazines “as the primary tool for lawful purposes.”

“It necessarily follows that the Second Amendment protects the arms-bearing conduct at issue here,” she wrote.

Attorney General Nick Brown said the majority decision “is right on the law and will save lives.”

“Large capacity magazines are used in the overwhelming majority of mass shootings, and reducing the toll of these senseless killings is vitally important,” he continued in a social media post.

Serrano said in an interview Thursday that the ruling was “what we anticipated,” but he was glad to see two justices disagreeing with the majority.

Gator’s Guns will seek direct review by the U.S. Supreme Court, he said.

“We’re ready to take this to the next level,” Serrano said. “We believe the Second Amendment analysis in this ruling will be a draw for review by the U.S. Supreme Court.”

Gov. Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, who oversaw the case for the state during his time as attorney general, said in a statement that the ban is a “common-sense” policy “essential in addressing mass shootings.”

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March 31 deadline to remove studded tires

Remove studded tires by March 31
Photo courtesy WSDOT

Spring arrived in the Northwest earlier this week, and with it comes Washington's deadline to remove studded tires.

Studded tires must be removed by the end of the day on Monday, March 31, to avoid a potential fine of $137. 

Automotive centers are expected to be busy the weekend before the deadline, so we are encouraging travelers to plan ahead.

"Studded tires cause between $20 million to $29 million in damage to Washington's state-owned roads each winter, in addition to damaging city and county roads," said WSDOT Maintenance Operations Manager James Morin.

"There are many alternative traction options available. We encourage drivers to consider non-stud, winter-tread tires, which provide excellent traction without the road damage caused by metal studs."

Studded tires are legal in Washington from Nov. 1 to March 31. There is no individual exception or "out of state waiver" to the studded tire dates. Tickets could be issued by the Washington State Patrol as soon as Monday, April 1. WSDOT does not issue tickets.

Washington and Oregon share the same March 31 removal deadline, but other states may have different rules. All drivers—including visitors—must follow Washington's motor vehicle laws while in the state.

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