State v. Maloney

481 P.2d 1, 78 Wash. 2d 922, 1971 Wash. LEXIS 564
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 18, 1971
Docket40882
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 481 P.2d 1 (State v. Maloney) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Maloney, 481 P.2d 1, 78 Wash. 2d 922, 1971 Wash. LEXIS 564 (Wash. 1971).

Opinion

Hamilton, C.J.

Appellant, by jury trial in superior court, was convicted on separate counts of violating RCW 9.87.010(7) and 9.87.010(13), 1 respectively. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $100 on each count, with the fine on the count lodged under RCW 9.87.010(13) suspended. He appeals.

The circumstances giving rise to his convictions may be summarized as follows:

On February 19, 1968, the Board of Trustees of the Spokane Community College adopted an administrative policy statement relating to the free distribution of handbills, leaflets, and other materials on the college campus by non-students and off-campus organizations. This statement required that such distributors register with the Dean of Students, who then would designate areas on the campus where distribution could be made. The next day the policy *924 statement was' further implemented, by-the requirement that all sales of periodicals, magazines, and books- on campus be channelled through the college book store. Appellant attended the board of trustees’ meeting at which the initial policy statement was announced.

On April 17, 1968, appellant entered upon the college campus and commenced to sell a publication entitled “Spokane Natural,” characterized in the statement of facts as a “so-called underground newspaper.” Appellant was not a student at the school, neither was he otherwise affiliated with the institution. He made no effort whatsoever to comply with the requirements of the policy statement of February 19th or the implementary rule regarding commercial publications.

As appellant proceeded with his sales efforts, he was approached by college officials, advised of the school policy requirements, informed he could give away the periodical at designated areas on the campus or that he could sell it on the street, and asked to comply with the college rules. He refused and continued his sales attempts. He was then asked to leave, and, upon his refusal, the police were called. Arrest, charge, and conviction followed.

Appellant challenges his convictions ■ under RCW 9.87 .010(7), the “lewd, disorderly or dissolute” provision, and RCW 9.87.010(13), the willful loitering provision of the vagrancy statute. He contends that the respective provisions are unconstitutionally vague, overbroad and inapplicable to his activities on the campus on the day in question. In addition, he questions the sufficiency of the evidence to support a finding of guilt under either provision.

In State v. Harlowe, 174 Wash. 227, 24 P.2d 601 (1933), we considered RCW 9.87.010(7), recognized the common and ordinary meaning of the terms employed and held that the provision was not vague and uncertain. Since that time, we have further considered and somewhat limited or narrowed the meaning of the word “disorderly” as used in the context of the provision. In these later decisions we have held that the word, in its context, connotes *925 overt misconduct ■ contrary to the rules of good order and behavior, which is violative of the public peace. Seattle v. Franklin, 191 Wash. 297, 70 P.2d 1049 (1937); State v. Finrow, 66 Wn.2d 818, 405 P.2d 600 (1965); State v. Levin, 67 Wn.2d 988, 410 P.2d 901 (1966). As so construed and applied we can perceive no fatal vagueness.

In State v. Oyen, 78 Wn.2d 909, 480 P.2d 766 (1971), we were confronted with and considered contentions of vagueness, overbreadth and inapplicability of RCW 9.87.010(13) as applied to a factual situation analogous to the one existing in this case. Our conclusions were contrary to appellant’s contentions here and are dispositive of his arguments with respect thereto as applied to both RCW 9.87.010(7) and 9.87.010(13).

We turn to appellant’s challenges going to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdicts of guilt under either of the cited subdivisions of RCW 9.87.010.

We are satisfied that within the purport of RCW 9.87 .010(13), as defined in State v. Oyen, supra, the evidence concerning his unauthorized presence and conduct on the campus on the date in question, is sufficient to sustain the verdict under that count of the complaint. On the state of the record before us, however, we cannot say the same with respect to the count lodged under RCW 9.87.010(7), considering the interpretation and application given to the term “disorderly” in our prior decisions.

There is no evidence that appellant in undertaking to sell the periodical, Spokane Natural, on the campus was loud, boisterous or tumultuous. Neither is there any indication in the record that his confrontation with the school authorities or the police was blatant, vociferous, or belligerent. In fact, one of the school officials involved testified that he was courteous and polite. For the most part classes were in session, and the testimony reveals that, except for some momentary and limited student curiosity generated by the assemblage of appellant, the school officials and the police on the campus, the peace and order of the educational process was not otherwise disturbed. Under these circum *926 stances, we do not deem that appellant’s behavior can fairly or properly be characterized as overt misconduct violative of the public peace within the contemplation of RCW 9.87.010(7). Cf. State v. Levin, supra.

In addition, although the point has not been raised on this appeal, we are. dubious of the propriety of the state erecting two counts of vagrancy and seeking to exact two penalties predicated upon identical and indivisible circumstances and events occurring at the same time and place. RCW 9.87.010

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Bluebook (online)
481 P.2d 1, 78 Wash. 2d 922, 1971 Wash. LEXIS 564, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-maloney-wash-1971.