Instead of calling the cops, they fist fight like gentlemen.
In two states, Washington and Texas, this would be technically legal. They are the only two that allow “mutual combat”. A police officer is legally required to act as a ref though.
Texas has similar law but implicit consent (ie “fighting words”) are sufficient, unlike Washington’s explicit requirement.
Washington state has no mutual combat law. The only law I can find regarding it is from the Washington code of military justice for dueling. Even then it only says that you must report if you know about a duel or you will “be punished as a court martial may direct.” The only thing I have heard of that relates is that someone could refuse prosecution after a fight and therefore no crime occurred.
There is a Seattle municipal code that only forbids fighting if there is risk to others, property, or has a substantial risk to do so.
It is apparently more that it’s derived from common law and judicial precedent, as well as not making it explicitly illegal in the RCW. There are cities and municipalities that do explicitly criminalize it, like Tumwater (General Code 9.08.070).
That’s a shame, I love the mental image of somebody in Washington calling the cops like: “Hello, we’d like to get into a fight please!” and the police responding: “No worries, we’ll send someone out to referee!”
In two states, Washington and Texas, this would be technically legal. They are the only two that allow “mutual combat”. A police officer is legally required to act as a ref though.
Texas has similar law but implicit consent (ie “fighting words”) are sufficient, unlike Washington’s explicit requirement.
Washington state has no mutual combat law. The only law I can find regarding it is from the Washington code of military justice for dueling. Even then it only says that you must report if you know about a duel or you will “be punished as a court martial may direct.” The only thing I have heard of that relates is that someone could refuse prosecution after a fight and therefore no crime occurred. There is a Seattle municipal code that only forbids fighting if there is risk to others, property, or has a substantial risk to do so.
It is apparently more that it’s derived from common law and judicial precedent, as well as not making it explicitly illegal in the RCW. There are cities and municipalities that do explicitly criminalize it, like Tumwater (General Code 9.08.070).
That’s a shame, I love the mental image of somebody in Washington calling the cops like: “Hello, we’d like to get into a fight please!” and the police responding: “No worries, we’ll send someone out to referee!”
Them’s fightin’ words!