Pubdate: Sun, 11 Mar 2007
Source: Eagle Valley News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Sicamous Eagle Valley News
Contact:  http://www.eaglevalleynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4362
Author: Lachlan Labere

DRUG OPERATIONS TARGETED WITH BYLAW

Council To Look At Cleaning Up Grow Operations

The District of Sicamous is considering a new bylaw that targets the 
premises of former drug production or grow operations.

At its Feb. 28 committee of the whole meeting, Sicamous council 
received for its consideration a copy of the Safe Premises Bylaw 
adopted by the City of Salmon Arm.

Such a bylaw would be enforced following a drug-related bust by RCMP, 
typically on rental properties. According to the Salmon Arm bylaw, 
after arrests have been made, a "Do Not Occupy" notice is posted on 
the premises and occupants must leave. Onus would then be placed upon 
the property's owner, particularly absentee owners, to have the 
building professionally cleaned and inspected by a certified 
hygienist. Property owners would also be required to pay to the city 
service fees for an infraction, a minimum of $1,000 plus staff time 
spent on a file. Other costs faced by the property owner include a 
$500 fee for each inspection, a $500 fee for a special safety 
inspection, a $90 hourly rate for a peace officer and a $33.75 hourly 
rate for each visit from a bylaw enforcement officer.

Water to the property can be disconnected until the requirements of 
the bylaw are met. And, if a property owner should default on payment 
to the municipality, associated costs and fees could be added to the 
owner's property tax bill the following year.

The purpose of the Salmon Arm bylaw is to "promote public safety and 
'safe premises' by requiring the remediation of residences previously 
used as illegal grow operations and drug labs."

It's an approach that fits with the Sicamous RCMP's own strategic 
plan, and one that Harrison said he plans to take up with council.

"What it does is it empowers bylaw enforcement to deal with homes 
that are contaminated by drug use, manufacturing or cultivation, 
which can create a significant health problem in the community, and a 
significant safety hazard with regard to altered wiring and fire 
hazard, that type of thing," said Harrison. "Rather than dealing 
solely with the individual, it deals with the premises and the dire 
consequences and danger to health that premises create in the 
community. That's a big concern. One meth lab blowing up in your 
neighbourhood is going to ruin your day. The toxic chemicals involved 
in that poses a serious and significant health risk."

When arrests are made on a premises for the production or 
manufacturing of controlled substances, Harrison explained, charges 
are recommended for the individuals involved under the Controlled 
Drugs and Substances Act. Typically, nothing is done with the 
premises of the drug operation, and in no time, said Harrison, that 
operation is back in business.

With the adoption of a safe premises bylaw, a municipal government 
can take a more holistic approach, according to Harrison, to ridding 
a community of illegal drug and grow operations, he adds.

"That's the idea behind it -- there's got to be a way to deal with 
the entire problem," said Harrison. "Simply charging a 
person   doesn't solve the problem. We've seen for years that drug 
enforcement is only one tool on your tool belt for dealing with the 
problem of drug abuse. The other obvious one is education, and then 
there are things like these safe premises bylaws that are being 
looked at by communities across B.C. To me it's a step in the right direction."

Council decided at the committee meeting to arrange a future meeting 
with Harrison to discuss the Salmon Arm bylaw.

The Salmon Arm bylaw is modelled after a similar bylaw, the 
Controlled Substances Bylaw, adopted by Chilliwack. The latter bylaw 
was created by the Union of B.C. Municipalities to help local 
governments deal with grow operations in their communities.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman