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Wash. Court of Appeals published opinion — D2 45190-5-II Published Opinion.pdf

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Wash. Court of Appeals published opinion — D2 45190-5-II Published Opinion.pdf
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Washington (state)
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Co., 269 U. S. 385, 391, 46 S. Ct. 126, 70 L. Ed. 322 ( 1926)). Therefore, to prove the failure to

register statute is unconstitutionally vague, Breidt " must show beyond a reasonable doubt that

either ( 1) the statute does not define the criminal offense with sufficient definiteness that ordinary

people can understand what conduct is proscribed, or (2) the statute does not provide ascertainable

standards of guilt to protect against arbitrary enforcement." Coria, 120 Wn.2d at 163.

Breidt only argues that the terms of the statute are not sufficiently defined. Specifically,

Breidt argues that the statute is unconstitutionally vague because it fails to define the terms

residence," " change," and " residence address." Br. of Appellant at 5 - 6. In addition, Breidt argues

that the entire phrase " changes his or her residence address" is vague. Br. of Appellant at 7.

When a statute does not define a term, the statute is not automatically deemed

unconstitutionally vague. Jenkins, 100 Wn. App. at 90. Instead, when terms are not defined in a

statute, they are given their ordinary meaning. Id.

B. " RESIDENCE"

Addressing the term " residence," Breidt recognizes that several cases have applied the

ordinary meaning of the term " residence," but appears to argue that, because courts have looked

at " a variety of factors to determine whether or not a particular dwelling qualifies as a residence,"

a person of ordinary intelligence would not be able to understand the meaning of the term

residence. Br. of Appellant at 6. We disagree.
             

No. 45190 -5 - II

The term " residence" is commonly understood as " a temporary or permanent dwelling