The purpose of chapter 314-29 WAC is to outline what a liquor licensee or a mandatory alcohol server training permit holder can expect if a licensee or permit holder receives an administrative violation notice alleging a violation of a liquor and cannabis board statute or regulation.

(1) When an enforcement officer believes that a licensee or a mandatory alcohol server training permit holder has violated a board statute or regulation, the officer may prepare an administrative violation notice (AVN) and mail or deliver the notice to the licensee, licensee's agent or permit holder.

(2) The AVN notice will include:

(a) A brief narrative description of the violation(s) the officer is charging;

(b) The date(s) of the violation(s);

(c) A copy of the law(s) and/or regulation(s) allegedly violated;

(d) An outline of the licensee's or permit holder's options as outlined in WAC 314-29-010; and

(e) The recommended penalty.

(i) If the recommended penalty is the standard penalty, see WAC 314-29-020 through 314-29-035 for licensees, and WAC 314-17-100 and 314-17-105 for mandatory alcohol server training permit holders.

(ii) For cases in which there are aggravating or mitigating circumstances, the penalty may be adjusted from the standard penalty. See WAC 314-29-015 for licensees, and WAC 314-17-110 for mandatory alcohol server training permit holders.

(1) The board may summarily suspend any license or permit after the board's enforcement division has completed a preliminary staff investigation of the violation and upon a determination that immediate cessation of the licensed or permitted activities is necessary for the protection or preservation of the public health, safety or welfare.

(2) Suspension of any license or permit under this provision shall take effect immediately upon personal service on the licensee or employee thereof of the summary suspension order unless otherwise provided in the order.

(3) When a license or permit has been summarily suspended by the board, an adjudicative proceeding for revocation or other action must be promptly instituted before an administrative law judge assigned by the office of administrative hearings. If a request for an administrative hearing is timely filed by the licensee or permit holder, then a hearing shall be held within ninety days of the effective date of the summary suspension ordered by the board.

(1) Upon summary suspension of a license or permit by the board pursuant to WAC 314-29-006, an affected licensee or permit holder may petition the board for a stay of suspension pursuant to RCW 34.05.467 and 34.05.550(1). A petition for a stay of suspension must be received by the board within fifteen days of service of the summary suspension order. The petition for stay shall state the basis on which the stay is sought.

(2) A hearing shall be held before an administrative law judge within fourteen days of receipt of a timely petition for stay. The hearing shall be limited to consideration of whether a stay should be granted, or whether the terms of the suspension may be modified to allow the conduct of limited activities under current licenses or permits.

(3) Any hearing conducted pursuant to subsection (2) of this section shall be a brief adjudicative proceeding under RCW 34.05.485. The agency record for the hearing shall consist of the documentary information upon which the summary suspension was based. The licensee or permit holder shall have the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that:

(a) The licensee or permit holder is likely to prevail upon the merits at hearing;

(b) Without relief, the licensee or permit holder will suffer irreparable injury. For purposes of this section, elimination of income from licensed or permitted activities shall not be deemed irreparable injury;

(c) The grant of relief will not substantially harm other parties to the proceedings; and

(d) The threat to the public health, safety, or welfare is not sufficiently serious to justify continuation of the suspension, or that modification of the terms of the suspension will adequately protect the public interest.

(4) The initial order on stay shall be effective immediately upon service unless another date is specified in the order.

(1) The licensee, permit holder, or agency may petition the board for review of an initial order on stay. Any petition for review must be in writing and received by the board within ten days of service of the initial order. If neither party has requested review within ten days of service, the initial order shall be deemed the final order of the board for purposes of RCW 34.05.467.

(2) If the board receives a timely petition for review, the board shall consider the petition within fifteen days of service of the petition for review. Consideration on review shall be limited to the record of the hearing on stay.

(3) The order of the board on the petition for review shall be effective upon personal service unless another date is specified in the order and is final pursuant to RCW 34.05.467. Final disposition of the petition for stay shall not affect subsequent administrative proceedings for suspension or revocation of a license or permit.

(1) A licensee or a mandatory alcohol server training permit holder has twenty days from receipt of the notice to:

(a) Accept the recommended penalty; or

(b) Request a settlement conference in writing; or

(c) Request an administrative hearing in writing.

A response must be submitted on a form provided by the agency.

(2) What happens if a licensee or mandatory alcohol server training permit holder does not respond to the administrative violation notice within twenty days?

(a) If a licensee or permit holder does not respond to the administrative violation notice within twenty days, the recommended suspension penalty will go into effect. After twenty days and up to thirty days from the date of the administrative violation notice, and if the violation includes a monetary penalty, the licensee may pay a twenty-five percent fee in addition to the recommended penalty in lieu of suspension.

(b) If the penalty does not include a suspension, the licensee must pay a twenty-five percent late fee in addition to the recommended penalty. The recommended penalty plus the late fee must be received within thirty days of the violation notice issue date.

(c) When a licensee fails to submit payment of monetary fine proceedings, provisions to collect shall take effect immediately or other actions such as revocation, will be instituted as deemed appropriate by the WSLCB.

(d) An attempt to advise the debtor of the existence of the debt, and twenty-five percent late fee per (b) of this subsection, will be made notifying that the debt may be assigned to a collection agency for collection if the debt is not paid, and at least thirty days have elapsed from the time notice was attempted.

(e) Licensees failing to respond to an administrative violation notice or having outstanding fines shall not be eligible to renew their liquor license.

(f) Failure to address monetary penalties for two or more administrative violations notices in a two-year period will result in license cancellation.

(3) What are the procedures when a licensee or mandatory alcohol server training permit holder requests a settlement conference?

(a) If the licensee or permit holder requests a settlement conference, the hearing examiner or captain will contact the licensee or permit holder to discuss the violation.

(b) Both the licensee or permit holder and the hearing examiner or captain will discuss the circumstances surrounding the charge, the recommended penalty, and any aggravating or mitigating factors.

(c) If a compromise is reached, the hearing examiner or captain will prepare a compromise settlement agreement. The hearing examiner or captain will forward the compromise settlement agreement, authorized by both parties, to the board for approval.

(i) If the board approves the compromise, a copy of the signed settlement agreement will be sent to the licensee or permit holder, and will become part of the licensing history.

(ii) If the board does not approve the compromise, the licensee or permit holder will be notified of the decision. The licensee or permit holder will be given the option to renegotiate with the hearings examiner or captain, of accepting the originally recommended penalty, or of requesting an administrative hearing on the charges.

(d) If the licensee or permit holder and the hearing examiner or captain cannot reach agreement on a settlement proposal, the licensee may accept the originally recommended penalty, or the hearing examiner or captain will forward a request for an administrative hearing to the board's hearings coordinator.

(1) The purpose of WAC 314-29-015 through 314-29-040 is to outline what penalty a liquor licensee can expect if a licensee or employee violates a liquor and cannabis board law or rule (the penalty guidelines for mandatory alcohol server training permit holders are in WAC 314-17-100 through 314-17-110). WAC rules listed in the categories provide reference areas, and may not be all inclusive. For purposes of this section, ancillary activities are defined as activities an alcohol manufacturer participates in and include all activities, licenses, and privileges involving the public, such as serving samples, operating a tasting room, conducting retail sales, serving alcohol under a restaurant license, or serving alcohol with a special occasion license.

(2) Penalties for violations by liquor licensees or employees are broken down into five categories:

(a) Group One—Public safety violations, WAC 314-29-020.

(b) Group Two—Regulatory violations, WAC 314-29-025.

(c) Group Three—License violations, WAC 314-29-030.

(d) Group Four—Nonretail violations involving the manufacture, supply, and/or distribution of liquor by nonretail licensees and prohibited practices between nonretail licensees and retail licensees, WAC 314-29-035.

(e) Group Five—Public safety violations for sports entertainment facility licenses, WAC 314-29-038.

(3) For the purposes of chapter 314-29 WAC, a two year window for violations is measured from the date one violation occurred to the date a subsequent violation occurred.

(4) The following schedules are meant to serve as guidelines. Based on mitigating or aggravating circumstances, the liquor and cannabis board may impose a different penalty than the standard penalties outlined in these schedules. Based on mitigating circumstances, the board may offer a monetary option in lieu of suspension during a settlement conference as outlined in WAC 314-29-010(3).

(5) Ancillary activity violations:

(a) When a violation or violations are part of ancillary activities, all ancillary activities including those at the manufacturing facility or associated locations involving the public will be subject to the schedules of penalties outlined in WAC 314-29-020 through 314-29-038. When violations are part of ancillary activities, the manufacturing license will not be suspended, revoked, or canceled.

(b) When a violation or violations are not part of ancillary activities, the manufacturing license is subject to the schedules of penalties outlined in WAC 314-29-020 through 314-29-038 and will extend to all retail activities, associated facilities, privileges, endorsements, and permits.

(1) Group 1 violations are considered the most serious because they present a direct threat to public safety. Violations beyond the first violation do not have a monetary option upon issuance of a violation notice. The liquor and cannabis board may offer a monetary option in lieu of suspension days based on mitigating circumstances as outlined in WAC 314-29-015(4).

(2) Group 1 violations will be counted sequentially rather than independently by group. For example, if a licensee received a violation for over service on one day and a violation for sale to a minor a week later, the sale to a minor would be treated as a second offense since both violations are in the same violation group.

Group 2 violations are violations involving general regulation and administration of retail or nonretail licenses.

Group 3 violations are violations involving licensing requirements, license classification, and special restrictions.

Group 4 violations are violations involving the manufacture, supply, and/or distribution of liquor by nonretail licensees and prohibited practices between a nonretail licensee and a retail licensee.

Sports entertainment facility licenses are unique and different from other on-premises licenses since they are not open on a daily basis, but rather for specific events. Public safety violations are considered the most serious because they present a direct threat to public safety. All other violations and penalties are the same for sports entertainment facility licensees as other liquor licenses.

(1) General public safety violation penalties.

(2) If documented ticket sales for an event are unavailable, in order to assess penalties set forth in this section, the facility maximum occupancy will be used for the penalty assessment.

(3) WSLCB youth access compliance checks, in accordance with chapter 314-31 WAC.

A point of sale is defined as each different concession stand, or service area (such as a lounge), not each individual cash register.

(1) On the date a liquor license suspension goes into effect, a liquor and cannabis board enforcement officer will post a suspension notice in a conspicuous place on or about the licensed premises. This notice will state that the license has been suspended by order of the liquor and cannabis board due to a violation of a board law or rule.

(2) During the period of liquor license suspension, the licensee and employees:

(a) Are required to maintain compliance with all applicable liquor laws and rules;

(b) May not remove, alter, or cover the posted suspension notice, and may not permit another person to do so;

(c) May not place or permit the placement of any statement on the licensed premises indicating that the premises have been closed for any reason other than as stated in the suspension notice (see WAC 314-01-005 for the definition of "licensed premises").

(d) May not advertise by any means that the licensed premises is closed for any reason other than as stated in the liquor and cannabis board's suspension notice.

(3) During the period of liquor license suspension:

(a) A retail liquor licensee may operate his/her business provided there is no sale, delivery, service, consumption, removal, or receipt of liquor. No banquet permit or special occasion function may be held on the premises during a period of liquor license suspension.

(b) A nonretail licensee may operate his/her business provided there is no sale, delivery, service, consumption, removal, or receipt of liquor.

(c) A manufacturer of alcohol may do whatever is necessary as a part of the manufacturing process to keep current stock that is on hand at the time of the suspension from spoiling or becoming unsaleable during a suspension, provided it does not include bottling the product. The manufacturer may not receive any agricultural products used in the production of alcohol, crush fruit, or bottle alcohol during the period of suspension.