OLYMPIA…As the first legislative committee cut-off passes, all of Attorney General Rob McKenna’s legislative priorities continue to move through the process.

Highlights:

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Rob McKenna will be meeting today with U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to discuss legal and law enforcement issues facing the state of Washington– specifically gangs, methamphetamine and identity theft.

"The serious legal and law enforcement issues facing our state today call for a cooperative law enforcement approach," McKenna said. "Today’s meeting is a critical part of that process."

OLYMPIA– Attorney General Rob McKenna will personally testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow to demonstrate his strong support for legislation he requested to combat the activities of criminal gangs.

The request legislation from the Attorney General’s Office creates the new crime of tagging/gang graffiti, clearly defines “criminal gangs” and provides longer sentences for crimes committed by members of criminal gangs and those attempting to join criminal gangs.

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Statement by Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed

"We are pleased the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear arguments on the top-two primary initiative, Initiative 872.

We firmly believe in the people's right to initiative and we will continue to work to uphold the voters' will.  Initiative 872 is important because it allows voters to choose any candidate on the primary election ballot without being limited to a single political party.

OLYMPIA…Lakewood driving school owner Gary R. Probst received a 50-day sentence in Thurston County Superior Court Thursday afternoon after entering a guilty plea for one count of first degree theft for evading more than $14,000 in taxes.

The Attorney General’s Office filed charges against Probst after a joint investigation revealed he had used an Oregon driver’s license with a false address to purchase 16 vehicles in Oregon and avoid more than $14,000 in Washington state sales and use tax.

Tougher penalties provided, new crime created

OLYMPIA– Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that new legislation to combat the activities of criminal gangs, a growing problem throughout the state, has now been introduced in both the state Senate and the House of Representatives.

The request legislation from the Attorney General’s Office would create the new crime of tagging/gang graffiti and provide longer sentences for crimes committed by members of criminal gangs and those attempting to join criminal gangs.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with a Seattle company accused of making misrepresentations in the course of offering parking lot monitoring services to local businesses. The Attorney General’s Office alleged that Parking Enforcement Services, Inc., misrepresented its authority to enforce trespassing laws, operated in a way that deceived people as to the company’s authority to act as law enforcement, and offered an illusory “appeal” process to individuals who disputed fines.

Office Recovered $12.5 Million for Consumers in 2006

SEATTLE – Washington consumers filed 18,354 complaints with the Attorney General’s Office in 2006. Consumers reported fewer complaints about online auctions while communications companies and retailers, which have held the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for at least the last six years, continued to top the list.

Bipartisan coalition supports making assault by strangulation a felony

Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that legislation to address assault by strangulation, one of the most serious domestic violence crimes, has been introduced by a bipartisan coalition in both the Senate and House of Representatives.