Pubdate: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Contact: 2003 West Hawaii Today Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Author: Karen Iwamoto, West Hawaii Today Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: To read about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii . NEW TASK FORCE COULD EVICT DRUG DEALERS, USERS The state Legislature authorized Thursday a new statewide task force to investigate reports of drug activity on residential and commercial properties. The Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit - made up of two lawyers and two investigators within the Attorney General's office - will be authorized to bring civil nuisance proceedings against those suspected of using or selling drugs in local neighborhoods. Rep. Scott Saiki (D - McCully - Moiliili), who crafted the legislation, said the civil nuisance proceedings could result in eviction for such offenders. However, he said the legislation does not address the criminal aspect of drug activity. In other words, evicting a person suspected of drug activity does not guarantee that person will be convicted of a drug offense nor does it prevent that person from moving to another neighborhood. "I would imagine that this goes hand in hand with criminal prosecution," Saiki said. "If they can evict someone because of drug activity I would assume the police could then bring criminal charges." However, he said he wasn't sure to what extent the Attorney General's Office was working with local police departments to bring criminal charges against those evicted because of drug activities. Kurt Spohn, a state deputy district attorney and part of the Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit, said the legislation is a temporary solution at best and the task force will work closely with local police. "Nuisance abatement is a good idea and will supplement law enforcement very well," Spohn said. "But the most important entity is still law enforcement." Under current state law, oftentimes non - violent first time drug offenders do not receive any jail time and return to their homes where they continue their illegal activity, he said. However, if the police have gathered enough evidence to convict someone of drug activity that person can probably be evicted from his home under the nuisance abatement laws even if he does not receive jail time, he said. The purpose of the legislation is to enhance law enforcement efforts, he added. He also pointed out that while eviction could force drug activity into other neighborhoods, it may also make drug dealers and users more nervous about continuing illegal activities. The legislation also gives landlords who have ignored previous reports of drug activity on their properties an incentive to take action, he said. "I would say about 99 percent of the landlords out there are responsible," Spohn said. "A small minority of landlords only care about the rent money. Under those circumstances the nuisance abatement laws allow the prosecuting attorney or the attorney general's office to bring suit to abate the nuisance." Those who would like to report suspected drug use in their neighborhoods can contact the Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit at (800) 9NO - METH (1 - 800 - 966 - 6384) or fax the unit at (808) 586 - 1371. The Big Island Police Department has a separate hotline for drug tips. Those numbers are: 329 - 0ICE (329 - 0423) and 934 - VICE (934 - 8423). While the Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit's objective civil nuisance proceedings and the police are focused on criminal prosecution, the two agencies will work closely with one another and share information, Spohn said. The public can contact either agency to report drug related activity. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk