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July 22, 2016

Courts nixes parts of anti-begging law

OLYMPIA (AP) — The Washington state Supreme Court has invalidated two sections of the city of Lakewood's anti-begging ordinance, saying that the sections violated the First Amendment rights of a man convicted for walking into the traffic lanes at Interstate 5's northbound exit ramp.

Six of the high court's nine justices agreed Thursday that the 2012 conviction of Robert Willis — who walked onto the exit holding a sign that said he was disabled and needed help — should be reversed. Willis had been sentenced to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000, though the jail time was suspended, as was $750 of the fine. He was also assessed $125 in costs at the time.


 
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