(1) This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as the City of Covington criminal code.

(2) The provisions of this code do not apply to or govern the construction of and punishment for any offense committed prior to 12:01 a.m. on March 1, 1997, or to the construction and application of any defense to a prosecution for such an offense. Such an offense must be construed and punished according to the provisions of law existing in the City at the time of the commission thereof in the same manner as if this code had not been enacted.

(3) Notwithstanding the RCW sections that are specifically adopted by reference in this title, all RCW sections, chapters, and titles that constitute misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors and the RCW sections, chapters, and titles necessary for the investigation, arrest, prosecution, sentencing, confinement, and enforcement of misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors are hereby adopted by reference as currently enacted, adopted in the future, or as hereafter amended or recodified from time to time, whether in the same or different section, chapter, or title of the RCW, and shall be given the same force and effect as if set forth herein in full. Further, and notwithstanding the RCW sections, chapters, and titles that are specifically adopted by reference in this title, all class C felony crimes set forth in the RCW are hereby adopted by reference for the purposes of charging a gross misdemeanor for a violation of any of the crimes set forth in Chapter 9A.28 RCW.

(4) By adopting RCW sections, chapters, and titles by reference in this title, the City intends to assume jurisdiction over and become the jurisdictional authority for the enforcement and prosecution of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes committed within the City. Whenever the word “state” appears in any statute adopted by reference in this title, the word “City” is substituted therefor; provided, however, the term “City” is not substituted for the term “state” in those circumstances that set forth administrative or licensing duties of the state and its subdivisions. Whenever a state statute specifically adopted in this title refers to another state statute not specifically adopted in this title, the statute referred to is given the force and effect necessary to enforce the statute specifically adopted in this title. Any state statute that is adopted by reference in this title is given the same force and effect as if fully set forth in this title. When issuing a citation, information, or complaint for the violation of any section of the RCW adopted by this title, it is sufficient for a commissioned officer or prosecutor to cite to and refer to the RCW section number.

(5) Section captions are for organizational purposes only and shall not be construed as part of this code. (Ord. 04-23 § 2; Ord. 01-23 § 2; Ord. 74-98 § 1)