The Kent City Council approved establishing three Stay Out of Drug Areas (SODA) in an effort to reduce drug activity in downtown, along a portion of West Meeker Street and on the East Hill along 104th Avenue SE/SE 240th Street.

The council unanimously approved the proposal March 18 at its Committee of the Whole meeting to create a new ordinance. Final approval will go before the council April 1 with an expected effective date in May.

A city of Kent Municipal Court judge could ban a person charged or convicted of drug offenses from certain zone known for drug activity. Exceptions could be made if the person lives or works in the area.

“It’s a tool to assist law enforcement and decrease unlawful activity,” said Sara Watson, city of Kent chief prosecuting attorney, in a report to the council. “It gives the court the ability to order defendants to stay out of the zone.”

Violation of the Stay Out of Drug Areas order will be a gross misdemeanor subject to a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $5,000 fine under city code. A person found in violation of this order is subject to arrest.

Watson said the law is similar in concept to the city code’s existing Stay Out of Areas of Racing (SOAR) and Stay Out of Areas of Prostitution (SOAP) provisions and that keeping individuals known to engage in unlawful drug activity out of these concentrated areas will help decrease the amount of unlawful activity that occurs there.

Kent Police Cmdr. Mike O’Reilly told the council the drug incidents in the three areas are the highest in the city and have greatly increased the last few years. The police and law departments used crime data to come up with the proposal.

In 2022, Kent Police officers issued just 34 criminal citations for drug activity, according to city documents. These citations increased to 231 in 2023 and nearly doubled in 2024 to 562. Violations range between misdemeanor possession or use of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia to felony drug crimes that include distribution and trafficking.

In addition, over the same time period, the Kent Police Department responded to more than 1,000 drug overdose incidents. In analyzing the data, police staff discovered that these incidents are concentrated in some areas of Kent more heavily than in other areas. In addition, other crime, including violent assaults and theft, is often concentrated around these high drug use areas, according to city documents.

“We are a data driven agency,” O’Reilly said.

The three Stay Out of Drug Areas are scheduled to be:

• Downtown corridor

This area is bordered on the north by West Smith Street, on the south by South 259th Street, on the east by Central Avenue and on the west by Third Avenue.

• West Meeker corridor

This area is bordered on the north by West Smith Street, on the south by Kent-Des Moines Road, on the east by State Route 167 and on the west by Russell Road.

• 104th and 240th corridor

This area is bordered on the north by SE 236th Street, on the south by SE 244th Street, on the east by the 11200 block of SE 240th Street and on the west by 100th Avenue SE.

The West Meeker corridor has the most drug incidents followed by downtown and the 104th/240th corridor, according to city crime statistics.

“We’re trying to make these people using drugs uncomfortable so if they are picked up numerous times they get the idea they need to change their location to buy drugs or change their lifestyle,” Councilmember John Boyd said.

Councilmember Bill Boyce asked Watson if other cities are using this ordinance and whether it’s reduced drug activity. Watson replied the cities of Seattle and Auburn have similar ordinances but she didn’t know the results. The Seattle City Council passed the Stay Out of Drug Area ordinance in late 2024.

“I support this,” Councilmember Marli Larimer said. “It’s a common sense tool to use.”

In response to a question from Councilmember Brenda Fincher, Watson said someone arrested for violation of the Stay Out of Drug Areas would have access to community services to help them stop using drugs.

“I think this is a good move,” Fincher said. “Hopefully, it will give some people the carrot they need to move on (from drugs).”