A class-action complaint claims it violates privacy rights A class-action complaint filed this week in Seattle argues that the city?s mandatory rental inspection program, a proactive system meant to catch violations, violates constitutional rights to privacy.
The complaint, filed by lawyers from the public interest law firm Institute for Justice (IFJ) on Tuesday, argues the city?s Rental Registration and Inspection Ordinance violates the privacy enshrined in the U.S. and Washington constitutions, specifically Article I, § 7, which states that ?No person shall be disturbed in his private affairs, or his home invaded, without authority of law.? Inspectors should be required to get a warrant or a tenant?s consent to enter a private residence. Run through the city?s Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI), the system cycles through the city?s entire rental stock every 10 years, checking units in all rental buildings at random. Inspectors in the program do not obtain warrants, or require a suspicion of wrongdoing or violations; they have the authority to enter and check for violations in at least 20 percent of the units in each building, using a 12-page checklist when examining rooms, and check out the rental property?s bathrooms, bedrooms, sinks, bathtub, and kitchens.
According to Dan Nolte, spokesman for the Seattle City Attorney?s Office, speaking on behalf of the SDCI, this was the first legal complaint the city has received about the issue since the law...