RCW 9a.76.020 Washington

In State v. White, 97 Wn.2d 92, 640 P.2d 1061 (1982) a transient was arrested for failure to provide information contrary to RCW 9A.76.020. This statute provided in pertinent part: "Obstructing a public servant. Every person who: (1) without lawful excuse shall refuse or knowingly fail to make or furnish any statement, report, or information lawfully required of him by a public servant, or; (2) in any such statement or report shall make any knowingly untrue statement to a public servant, or; (3) shall knowingly hinder, delay, or obstruct any public servant in the discharge of his official powers or duties; shall be guilty of a misdemeanor." White, 97 Wn.2d at 95-96 (quoting former RCW 9A.76.020). The issue we there resolved was "whether criminal sanctions may be imposed upon an individual for failing to disclose correct information to a police officer." White, 97 Wn.2d at 96. The Court held they could not, reasoning the statute was defective both in the sense that it failed to give fair notice of what activities were required or forbidden and also because it encouraged arbitrary and erratic stops and arrests. White, 97 Wn.2d at 99. The Court held the standardless sweep of former RCW 9A.76.020 as set forth in subsections (1) and (2) "cannot be sufficiently narrowed by any limiting construction we might place upon it," so as to pass constitutional muster. White, 97 Wn.2d at 101.