Pubdate: Wed, 07 Mar 2007
Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Tri-City News
Contact:  http://www.tricitynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239
Author: Lara Gerrits

POWER PLAY AGAINST GROW OPS

Coquitlam Program To Tackle Pot Farms Includes Fines And
Inspections

Got a grow op in your home? If you live in Coquitlam,
beware.

It's the message city hall is sending with the announcement of a new
Public Safety Inspection Program allowing police and firefighters to
shut down grow ops without a search warrant and slap more than $5,000
in fees on a property owner.

New inspection teams -- comprised of city building and bylaw
inspectors, an electrical inspector, an RCMP officer and a member of
Coquitlam Fire/Rescue -- will soon be able to target households with
high energy consumption. Under new amendments to the B.C. Safety
Standards Act, BC Hydro can now release the information to municipal
governments.

Once a residence is identified to have high energy consumption, the
inspection team will show up on site to do an exterior search of the
home and give 48 hours notice of an interior search. If the inspection
is denied, officials will cut the power supply to the house; once shut
off, it will not be reinstated until the property owner has arranged
for -- and passed -- a safety inspection and paid the $5,000 fee
associated with it.

"With this new public safety inspection program, we will be sending
out a clear message that we will not tolerate these activities in our
community," Mayor Maxine Wilson said at Monday night's city council
meeting, where council unanimously give first three readings to the
new Controlled Substance Property Bylaw used to administer the
program. "The word will get out amongst the community that does grow
ops [that] coming to Coquitlam is an expensive way to do business."

Similar programs are already in place -- and successful -- in Surrey
and Abbotsford, she said.

According to RCMP statistics, approximately 45 grow op-related
complaints have been logged by the Coquitlam RCMP detachment since the
beginning of the year.

"They're a huge problem," said Jim Ogloff, Coquitlam's assistant fire
chief in charge of fire prevention.

He said there's little room for error with the energy reports, noting
those homes slated for inspection will have energy consumption at
least three times more than the average.

"[Levels] would far and away exceed anything you would normally
experience in a home under regular use, even if you had a number of
fridges and deep freezers going and a hot tub," he said.

The major concern regarding grow operations from his standpoint is
their potential for fire. In fact, a house with a grow op is 25 times
more likely to have one, he said.

"People typically wiring these homes are typically not trained to do
what they're doing," Ogloff said. "This stuff is all being done in a
fairly crude fashion."

Other risks could include the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning,
dangerous mould, building code infractions and, perhaps most
seriously, grow rips occurring "on what is normally a crime-free street."

In addition to the $5,000 inspection fee, $500 fines can also be
charged for bylaw infractions related to building modifications,
mould, interference with power, unauthorized occupancy and noxious
odours or fumes.

City spokesperson Therese Mickelson said the program, which is
budgeted to cost $1.3 million this year, is designed to recover all
costs, including the hiring of four new full-time staff members: a
fire prevention officer, a bylaw/properties inspector, a
building/plumbing inspector and a clerk.

Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Const. Brenda Gresiuk said the new program
is fully supported by police, who will assist in the efforts by
standing by during inspections.

"It's a great way for partnering with the city to prevent crime in our
community and make it a safer place," she said.

Coun. Lou Sekora said the 48-hour timeline "troubles him" because
people with grow ops or meth labs can easily pack them up and dump the
equipment before an inspection happens. He also asked that social
services be involved in inspections, in case there are children living
in the targeted residences.

"I bet there are thousands of grow ops going on right now in the
Tri-City area," added Coun. Doug Macdonell, a former police officer.
"I think we have to do everything we can to bring these down."

Coun. Fin Donnelly asked that the program be monitored closely to
ensure the $5,000 fees are covering all costs of the program.

It is anticipated the bylaw will go forward to council for fourth and
final reading at the next council meeting, March 19. Next steps will
include finalizing the contract with the B.C. Safety Authority, which
provides electrical inspectors, and collecting data on high electrical
usage.

Inspections are slated to start this spring, with a target of six to
10 per week once fully operational.

Anyone who suspects there is a grow op in their neighbourhood should
call the RCMP
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MAP posted-by: Derek