Drug Offenses Won’t Be Part Of ‘Three Strikes’ Locke Vetoes Proposal Adding Meth Crimes To Law

Saying the crimes aren’t serious enough, Gov. Gary Locke on Saturday vetoed a proposal to add making or dealing methamphetamines to the “three strikes, you’re out” law.

The Democratic governor disregarded unanimous votes for the measure in both houses. He said the three-strikes law should be reserved for violent offenses, and this crime wasn’t one of them.

Currently, people convicted of any three of a long list of violent crimes, from murder to armed robbery and arson, must be sentenced to life in prison.

“This legislation would represent a fundamental shift in our criminal jurisprudence,” the governor said in a veto message to lawmakers. “It would have, for the first time, extended the three-strikes law to non-violent offenders. This is a step that cannot be taken lightly.

“If one category of non-violent drug offenses is added, what would be next?” he asked in the message. “How would we draw the line between non-violent crimes that should or should not be ‘strike’ crimes?”

Backers of the proposal, SB5191, argued that in fact this is a crime of violence.

“This is a violent, nasty, horrible drug,” said bill sponsor Sen. Calvin Goings, D-Puyallup.

Currently, the maximum penalty for manufacturing or delivering methamphetamine, or possessing it with intent to manufacture or deliver, is 10 years in prison and a fine of $50,000 for each kilogram involved when the amount is two or more kilograms.

Possession of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, both used to make the drug, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.