Courts, encounters with locking up pistols while visiting.

[AZRobert]

Had a hearing at the Pierce County Courthouse today, since it was chilly I was wearing a jacket and thus my gun was covered.
I went in the mail entrance and told the guard I needed to check a weapon. They directed me to a waiting area and called up a deputy to come and open their lock room. The deputy arrived, was polite he opened the room for me and opened a lockbox for me. He watched me put my gun into the lockbox. Filled out a receipt and handed me a voucher for the key to the box. He asked to see my Oregon CPL and an ID.
Overall the encounter went smoothly enough even if they did more than the law directed in securing my gun.

As I left no issues, told the security guard I needed my gun back. Deputy came up, gave me the key I opened my box put my gun back on my belt and away I went. Lots of people standing in the security line gave me funny looks though.

 

[tombrewster421]

I finally had a reason to go to the courthouse in Tacoma to file some papers with the district court. Only complaints are the wait time and the officer asked for ID even though I was OC. Thanks gogodawgs for making the experience better than it would have been in the past.

ETA the officer also made a point to tell me it would be better to put any other prohibited items in the lockbox rather than checking them in with security. (Pocket knives, handcuff keys, etc.) Much different from some others' experience of having been told they could not put knives in as the lock box was for "pistols only."

 

[tombrewster421]

Am I missing something? When did an Oregon CPL become valid in Washington? Isn't showing up at a courthouse with a concealed firearm, which is illegal to conceal without a recognized CPL kinda ballsy?

http://www.atg.wa.gov/concealedweapons/reciprocity.aspx

Just goes to show that you can't count on an officer to know the law.

 

[devldogs55]

Went into the courthouse in Kent yesterday and checked my 1911 and they let me put my pocket knife in the lock box too which was nice. They asked for my CPL and ID like everywhere else I've been. It took forever to get it checked in and out because security has to call a deputy to escort you all the way through the main lobby to their locker room, check it in, and then go back through the metal detectors at security. When I was trying to leave I got lucky that I saw the deputy who checked me in and didn't have to walk out to security to ask them to radio for the deputy.

I took my jacket off when the deputy escorted me around the metal detector (while still carrying a pistol and a knife that they knew about) because they wanted to pat me down - which was obviously pretty odd. I was completely open carrying a 1911 and 2 spare mags and they still wanted to pat me down. When the deputy escorted me to the locker room I was open carrying all the way through the secured area of the lobby and down another hall (where I got a lot of weird looks) and then the same on the way back. Not sure it was the best place to have a locker room.

Not sure what the point of the pat down was when they knew I had a knife and pistol... I mean I know what they would say if I asked them why they were doing it - but it still doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Freedom1Man]

SNIP

Not sure what the point of the pat down was when they knew I had a knife and pistol... I mean I know what they would say if I asked them why they were doing it - but it still doesn't make sense to me.

They wanted to give you a grope.

 

[Grim_Night]

Lakewood municipal court: Walk in, declare your possession of a weapon, court officers take possession and put it in a lock box. No checking of ID, CPL or anything else. When you're ready to leave, they give it back, usually unloaded. In my case, they gave my duty belt back and firearm in the holster fully loaded. Much less hassle then the downtown Tacoma courthouse.

 

[Freedom1Man]

Was at the Seattle Municipal court on Monday.

They asked for my CPL, told them that I was OC and did not need one, asked for my DL told them that I did not have one.
Locked up pistol no problems except that they unload my pistol at some point while they are holding it.
I told them to leave it alone in my holster and simply lock it up.

Got it back using the receipt that I was given, had to take it outside to load it. Bag it was in was full of holes, surprised I did not lose any ammo through the holes.

 

[griz_64]

I've got jury duty next month in lewis county, guess I will see how it goes

 

[Fibresteve]

I was at Clark County Courthouse In Vancouver last week. Told woman at security checkpoint that I had a firearm I needed to put in the lockbox. She looked at my OC and said "OK". She proceeded to open the box, I placed my holstered loaded firearm in the box and locked it. Handed her the key and she gave me a token with the lockbox number on it. I then proceeded through security without a problem. She same woman and a female Sheriff were there when I was leaving and picked up my firearm. Both were very friendly. The whole procedure was easy breezy.

 

[Freedom1Man]

I was at Clark County Courthouse In Vancouver last week. Told woman at security checkpoint that I had a firearm I needed to put in the lockbox. She looked at my OC and said "OK". She proceeded to open the box, I placed my holstered loaded firearm in the box and locked it. Handed her the key and she gave me a token with the lockbox number on it. I then proceeded through security without a problem. She same woman and a female Sheriff were there when I was leaving and picked up my firearm. Both were very friendly. The whole procedure was easy breezy.

In addition, the local legislative authority shall provide either a stationary locked box sufficient in size for pistols and key to a weapon owner for weapon storage, or shall designate an official to receive weapons for safekeeping, during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building. The locked box or designated official shall be located within the same building used in connection with court proceedings. The local legislative authority shall be liable for any negligence causing damage to or loss of a weapon either placed in a locked box or left with an official during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building.

They did it wrong and still violated the law.

 

[Fibresteve]

So they didn't actually give me the key. Compared to how some other people have posted about their experiences on here I'm not going to complain. I didn't have to unload it, hand it off to some "official" or give them any ID. I think it went very well.

 

[MSG Laigaie]

I've got jury duty next month in lewis county, guess I will see how it goes

Now this looks like fun.

 

[CitizenJohn]

In addition, the local legislative authority shall provide either a stationary locked box sufficient in size for pistols and key to a weapon owner for weapon storage, or shall designate an official to receive weapons for safekeeping, during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building. The locked box or designated official shall be located within the same building used in connection with court proceedings. The local legislative authority shall be liable for any negligence causing damage to or loss of a weapon either placed in a locked box or left with an official during the owner's visit to restricted areas of the building.

They did it wrong and still violated the law.

What action did they take that was not lawful?

 

[Freedom1Man]

What action did they take that was not lawful?

I was at Clark County Courthouse In Vancouver last week. Told woman at security checkpoint that I had a firearm I needed to put in the lockbox. She looked at my OC and said "OK". She proceeded to open the box, I placed my holstered loaded firearm in the box and locked it. Handed her the key and she gave me a token with the lockbox number on it. I then proceeded through security without a problem. She same woman and a female Sheriff were there when I was leaving and picked up my firearm. Both were very friendly. The whole procedure was easy breezy.

They made him lock it and then they took the key.

 

[CitizenJohn]

They made him lock it and then they took the key.

Couldn't that (security taking the key) be interpreted as complying with option 2, e.g., [designating an official to receive the pistol for safekeeping]? If security is receiving the pistol for safekeeping, then giving the owner a key is not required and the location is only restricted to "within the same building." The RCW doesn't stipulate that a box and a key must be used, even if they are available, right? So, when security keeps the key, my opinion is that an "official" is receiving my pistol [assuming responsibility for it, e.g., "safekeeping"] verses "me" just stowing it and keeping the key myself.

If the court house has boxes "sufficient in size for pistols" (I guess "average" is implied?) and I showed up with a pistol that wouldn't fit in one of their boxes, I would expect that they should receive the pistol and put it somewhere safe (option 2). I believe that the same would be true if all the boxes were in use or for some reason, not useable.

However, what they "should and shouldn't" do verses what they actually "do" seems to vary with every facility. Even at the two Clark County Court facilities that have security personnel trained by the same officials, the procedures are very different.

Frustrating for sure.

 

[Freedom1Man]

Couldn't that (security taking the key) be interpreted as complying with option 2, e.g., [designating an official to receive the pistol for safekeeping]? If security is receiving the pistol for safekeeping, then giving the owner a key is not required and the location is only restricted to "within the same building." The RCW doesn't stipulate that a box and a key must be used, even if they are available, right? So, when security keeps the key, my opinion is that an "official" is receiving my pistol [assuming responsibility for it, e.g., "safekeeping"] verses "me" just stowing it and keeping the key myself.

If the court house has boxes "sufficient in size for pistols" (I guess "average" is implied?) and I showed up with a pistol that wouldn't fit in one of their boxes, I would expect that they should receive the pistol and put it somewhere safe (option 2). I believe that the same would be true if all the boxes were in use or for some reason, not useable.

However, what they "should and shouldn't" do verses what they actually "do" seems to vary with every facility. Even at the two Clark County Court facilities that have security personnel trained by the same officials, the procedures are very different.

Frustrating for sure.

I'd like to see an attorney weigh in on this.

 

[Grim_Night]

So, I've been spending a lot of time at the Lakewood municipal court in the last few months because of my arrest at the beginning of April.

The court officers follow Washington state law exactly regarding the checking of weapons and firearms. They have never once asked me for ID or my CPL to check my firearm. I simply walk in and remove my black hawk holster attached to my belt with a quick disconnect system, they take my holstered firearm and place it in a lock box. They don't unload it or anything. I hand them my duty belt which they just place in the office behind a locked door. I then get scanned with a hand held metal detector because I walk with a cane with a metal handle now and let me go on my way.

When I'm ready to leave, they give me everything back without any issues at all. I've had pleasant conversations with the regular officers that provide security about various topics from holsters to ecigs, while waiting for my various court appearances or when getting ready to leave. If it wasn't for the fact that I have to be in court because of a criminal charge, I wouldn't have any problems at all regarding being there.

 

[Freedom1Man]

Was at the Seattle Municipal court today.

Did not ask for ID, they were friendly, I had to give the guy instructions on how to do his job but it was okay, and they still handle my gun more than needed as every time they unload my firearm. I am not happy about that because it means that I have to handle in public on a sidewalk to reload it.

I did notice a note in his drawer about my visiting though. I thought it was interesting that there was a note about a guy who open carries and normally has 2 Glocks on him. I think it is/was because I am the one who challenged them on the whole asking people for ID garbage.

 

[AlexMayhem]

Benton County Courthouse

I was in the BCC a few months ago to try and speak with the Sheriff. As I left I noted the pistol lock boxes and asked the guard about the check-in procedure - he seemed a little bit on alert as he immediately asked if I was carrying (wasn't, entered the court and went through their metal detector), but I told him I wasn't and he explained how to check my firearm. Last month I had to go in and pay a ticket so I had a reason to check it out!

They did have me provide ID and CPL, but I didn't have to unload the mag or unchamber the round. Next time I think I'll OC it, refuse to provide ID as they don't ID anyone else that I'm aware of, and the CPL would not be necessary for OC.

 

[MSG Laigaie]

Next time I think I'll OC it, refuse to provide ID as they don't ID anyone else that I'm aware of, and the CPL would not be necessary for OC.

Well Alex, what a little troublemaker you are. I like that.