RBMS Security Committee: State Laws: Washington

The RBMS Security Committee attempts to maintain a current list of statutes from each of the fifty states pertaining to library thefts or other criminal acts involving library and archival materials (view index). Following are the relevant laws for the state of Washington:

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RCW 27.12.330 (Revised Code of Washington) Penalty for injury to property.

Whoever intentionally injures, defaces, or destroys any property belonging to or deposited in any public library, reading room, or other educational institution, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

RCW 27.12.340 Wilfully retaining books -- Infraction.

It is a class 4 civil infraction for any person to wilfully retain any book, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, manuscript, or other property belonging in or to any public library, reading room, or other educational institution, for thirty days after notice in writing to return the same, given after the expiration of the time that by the rules of such institution such article or other property may be kept.

See Washington statutes online at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=27.

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