What to Know
- Those who qualify to receive a citation must go to police for booking within 15 days, and will either pay a $25 fine or go to court.
- Some aren't eligible for citations, including minors, people with outstanding warrants and those who police think won't answer the citation.
People caught smoking marijuana in public in the District will now receive citations instead of being taken into custody after a policy change.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the policy change Friday, effective immediately, news outlets report. D.C. police already had the option to forgo custodial arrests, but this new rule mandates it, in an effort to better allocate law enforcement resources.
Those who qualify to receive a citation must go to a police station for booking within 15 days, and will either pay a $25 fine or go to court.
Some aren't eligible for citations, though, including minors, people with outstanding warrants and those who police think won't answer the citation.
The District allows people to possess two ounces (57 grams) of marijuana.
