Everett adds 'Stay Out of Drug Area' along Colby Avenue
EVERETT — The Everett City Council voted Wednesday to extend the footprint of specified zones that courts can ban people accused or convicted of drug crimes from entering.
The zones, known as “Stay Out of Drug Areas” or SODA zones, cover large portions of the city, primarily along busy roads. The newest zone is located along Colby Avenue between Pacific Avenue and 36th Street, just south of Everett’s downtown core.
Municipal court judges issue SODA orders against individuals, banning them from entering certain zones on a case-by-case basis, said Lacey Offut, an attorney with the city, at Wednesday’s council meeting. The goal is to keep people charged or convicted of drug crimes from entering parts of Everett that have high rates of drug trafficking, she said.
The orders do not typically ban individuals from entering every SODA zone citywide, Offut said. Individuals with a SODA order can also request exceptions, when needed, to enter SODA zones that they are banned from.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/everett-adds-stay-out-of-drug-area-along-colby-avenue/