A. This title shall be known and may be cited as the “Vancouver Criminal Code.”

B. As used in this title, “RCW” shall mean the Revised Code of Washington.

C. As used in this title, "VMC” shall mean the Vancouver Municipal Code.

D. If any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, or provision of this title, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this title, or the application of the chapter, section, subsection, sentence, or provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected, and to this end, the chapters, sections, subsections, sentences and provisions of this title are declared to be severable.

E. By adopting Washington state statutes by reference in this title, the city intends to assume jurisdiction over and become the jurisdictional authority for the enforcement and prosecution of misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor crimes committed within the city of Vancouver. Whenever the word “state” shall appear in any statute adopted by reference in this title, the word “city” shall be substituted therefore; PROVIDED, however, the term “city” shall not be substituted for the term “state” in those circumstances that set forth administrative or licensing duties of the state and its subdivisions.

F. Whenever a state statute specifically adopted in this title refers to another state statute not specifically adopted in this title, the statute referred to shall be given the force and effect necessary to enforce the statute specifically adopted in this title.

G. Any state statute that is adopted by reference in this title and which is later amended, repealed, or recodified shall remain in full force and effect until the effective date of the legislative act that repeals, recodifies, or amends the state statute. The amendment or recodification of any state statute adopted by reference in this title shall retain its full force and effect as part of this title subsequent to the effective date of its amendment or recodification.

H. When issuing a citation, information, or complaint for the violation of any section of the RCW adopted by this title, it shall be sufficient for a commissioned officer or prosecutor to cite to and refer to the RCW section number.

I. Title, chapter, section and subsection captions are for organizational purposes only and shall not be construed as part of this title

J. The provisions of this title do not apply to or govern the construction of or punishment of any offense committed prior to the effective date of this title or to the construction and application of any defense to a prosecution for such offense. Such an offense shall be construed and punished according to the provisions of the law existing at the time of the commission of the offense in the same manner as if this title had not been enacted.

K. As used in this title, words used in the present tense include future tense; the masculine includes feminine and neutral genders; and the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

L. The provisions of this title are intended to create a duty to the public in general and not to create any duty to individuals or to any particular class of individuals. These provisions are not for the protection of any person or class of persons.

M. Unless otherwise provided in this title, violation of any provision of this title shall be punishable by:

N. Violations of other titles of the Vancouver Municipal Code designated as gross misdemeanors or misdemeanor shall, notwithstanding contrary criminal penalty provisions of those titles, be punishable as follows: