Pubdate: Thu, 16 Nov 2006
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  http://www.richmondreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Martin van den Hemel
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CITY AIMS TO POWER DOWN GROW-OPS

A successful 10-week pilot program in Surrey in 2005 that shut down
229 marijuana grow-ops has prompted the city to consider something
similar for Richmond.

City staff are urging council to adopt a new electrical safety
inspection program, which would pave the way for the city to access
B.C. Hydro records. Those records would reveal which local homes are
consuming an unusually large amount of electricity.

High electrical consumption is often associated with marijuana
grow-ops.

In a report scheduled to be presented to the city's community safety
committee on Wednesday afternoon--after The Richmond Review's
deadline--Richmond Fire-Rescue deputy chief Geoff Lake and manager
Sandra Pearson, wrote that the new program would be "an effective and
proven way of addressing grow ops and their associated safety risks."

Trends noticed in Surrey which led to the pilot program, "are also
prevalent in Richmond," the report states.

"There is no reason to believe that the grow-op problem in Richmond is
significantly different from that of Surrey, other than Richmond's
population is slightly less than half of Surrey's," it states.

Lake said the $560,000 price tag for the program would cover the
salaries of two police officers, one fire inspector and one B.C. Hydro
safety inspector.

"The point of this program is to shut down grow-ops and move them out
of Richmond," he said.

If council gives it the green light, Surrey has agreed to assist
Richmond in the training process, which will take some time, Lake
said. It likely wouldn't result in any inspections until early in the
new year.

To get access to B.C. Hydro's records, the city will first have to
adopt a electrical safety inspection program.

But an inspection won't be conducted based on power consumption data
alone, Lake said.

Other due diligence, including a drive-by of the address, will have to
be completed first.

If serious electrical problems are found, or a grow-op is discovered,
the homeowner will be billed an inspection fee, likely starting at
$1,450.

Homes that are problem or grow-op free will not be
charged.

Asked about the danger of inspecting grow-ops, Lake said a notice will
be posted at least 24 hours before an inspection. Two police officers
would also be present to ensure the safety of the inspection team.

Lake said that the notice will hopefully reduce or eliminate some of
the danger. The intent of the program isn't to level criminal charges.

"In most instances, people are long gone before (the inspection team)
gets there."

Simply because a house consumes a lot of electricity, that doesn't
always mean it's a grow-op, Lake said.

"There are legitimate reasons why someone would consume that amount of
power," he said.

For example, hot tubs draw a lot of power, as do kilns used by ceramic
hobbyists.

Coun. Derek Dang said he supports bringing in the one-year pilot
program.

"I think safety-wise, it's a worthwhile endeavour to give it a shot
anyway. We've had so many problems with grow-ops."

Dang said it's time the city step up and turn the tide against
marijuana growers.

"I wouldn't want to live beside a fire hazard myself."

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said the Richmond RCMP were
consulted about the program and the force supports it.

In Surrey, the pilot project resulted in:

* 420 police tips processed with 400 locations reviewed

* 78 grow locations terminated power

* 30 grow locations terminated by police or hydro as theft of
power

* 11 grow locations required seven-day notice to
repair

* 229 grow locations rendered safe

* 28 residences contained 49 children

* 7 residences did not contain a grow-op

* 94 per cent of the locations had electrical safety
violations

The success of the programs in Surrey and Abbotsford has led to both
programs continuing and expanding.
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MAP posted-by: Derek