Initiative 172 v. Western Washington Fair Association
Initiative 172 v. Western Washington Fair Association is a 1997 ruling of a state appeals court in Washington. The decision had to do with a petition sponsor who wanted circulators to be able to collect signatures at the Western Washington Fair. The fair is sponsored by a private owner on private property. The litigation concerned time, place and manner of restrictions on circulators. Once asked for its permission, the fair operator agreed, contingent on:
- The circulators staying in one particular location of the fair;
- Circulators collecting signatures only for four days out of the 17 day duration of the fair.
The trial court agreed with the restriction to one area of the fairgrounds, but said circulators should be able to collect signatures throughout the fair. The only question considered by the appeals court was the restriction to one area. The appeals court upheld the decision of the lower court, that this represented a reasonable time, place and manner restriction on the part of the fair operator.
