Pubdate: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 GROW-OP POWER ATTACK EXTENDED A six-month public safety initiative that has been a thorn in the side of marijuana growers has received an extension. A specialized community safety team that has been putting marijuana growers out of business will continue working for another two years. The Public Safety Inspection Team (PSIT) was given a two-year extension by Langley Township Council on Oct. 15. PSIT is made up of a fire inspector, two RCMP officers, an electrical advisor, a bylaw inspector, and clerical support staff. It investigates premises where excessive use of electricity has been noticed, and shuts down dangerous power sources. In most cases, such premises have been found to house marijuana grow operations. "Homes with grow-ops in them are twenty times as likely to catch fire as normal homes," said Township fire chief Doug Wade, "and the chemicals used to grow marijuana are dangerous to people and the environment." "We don't want marijuana producers in Langley," he said. "The Public Safety Inspection Team is making the community safer, and has had the added benefit of making it more difficult for [marijuana growers] to do business. It's working well." PSIT started in June 2007 as a six-month pilot project. Its purpose, goals, and methods were based on similar programs in Surrey and Abbotsford, but have been altered to meet the Township's requirements. PSIT receives data from B.C. Hydro on homes that use more than three times the normal amount of power. They also receive tips from the community, and have set up a hotline at 604-532-7527. With the information received, PSIT does background checks on reported premises and the people in them, and does drive-by inspections. If the team feels an on-site check is necessary, a notice is posted on the property, stating that a home inspection will be conducted in 24 hours. The next day, the team goes in to see what is causing the excessive use of power - and in many cases finds a marijuana grow-op, or evidence that one was recently active. PSIT uses a non-criminal approach to shutting the operations down, acting under the Community Charter, the Fire Services Act, safety standards, and Township bylaws. Those caught with grow-ops are not prosecuted, but homes using dangerous amounts of electricity have their power disconnected, damaging marijuana crops and forcing growers to move on, seriously hitting them in the pocketbook. "There is a substantial fee, as we operate on a cost-recovery basis," said Wade. "We are ensuring that our citizens and taxpayers do not bear the brunt." Inspections each carry a $3,700 fee, and when the price of the repairs, building permits, and electrical permits that are required to put the building back to livable standards are factored in, violators face thousands of dollars in costs, Wade said. In some cases, homes are declared unfit for occupation. Since it started, PSIT has done more than 110 inspections which have led to discoveries of electrical problems. In most cases, grow-ops were involved. Over the same time, from June to September this year, Langley RCMP used the Criminal Code to take down 16 grow-ops, Wade compared. "The police are very, very supportive of this [PSIT]," he added. "After these inspections, 95 per cent of those caught with a grow-op move out all their equipment and plants, removing the hazard from the neighbourhood." - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grow-Op Reports: Residents can report what appears to be a marijuana grow-op in their neighbourhoods through the tip line at 604-532-7527. Landlords are responsible and will be held accountable for their properties: "My best advice to landlords is to check on your tenants on a regular basis," said Township fire chief Doug Wade. "Tour the premises; don't just stand at the front door." Landlords who report suspicious tenants will not be charged the usual $3,700 investigation fee. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman