Seattle allowed to enforce anti-vandalism laws after court ruling

The Emerald City can once again enforce its graffiti ordinance after the Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals reversed a ruling of a lower court.

Seattle's City Attorney Ann Davison filed an appeal in July against a June ruling from US District Court Judge Marsha Pechman who said the city’s municipal code was too broad and criminalized free speech by posing a "real and substantial threat of censorship."

As a result, police could not arrest offenders and city prosecutors were prevented from charging them.

The order was in response to a lawsuit filed by activists who were charged under the city's graffiti law for vandalizing the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct during a protest in 2021.

King County Council Member Teresa Mosqueda during her time on the Seattle City Council previously cited Urban Artworks project director Paul Nunn in calling graffiti art and “unsolicited creative expression.” The activist council member also opposed charges against prolific taggers.

As a result of the latest ruling, vandals can now be charged with a gross misdemeanor for graffiti just as they would be for smashing windows and damaging property.

Davison said in a statement, “The people of Seattle won an important victory today when the Ninth Circuit upheld our City’s right to enforce our laws against graffiti property destruction.”

“Graffiti is a massive problem for our City, costing taxpayers, businesses, and residents millions of dollars while creating widespread visual blight. We must have as many tools as possible to protect neighbors and residents impacted by graffiti.”

Fox News contributor Elizabeth Economou previously said of the Emerald City's squalor, "Defaced public and private property can be seen everywhere — storefronts, apartment buildings, commercial vehicles, highways, bridges, street signs, and recycling bins all bear the urban scrawl." 

"Nothing is spared. Everything appears to be fair game, including magazine display racks, utility poles — even historic sites. Taggers, apparently, do not discriminate."