Pubdate: Wed, 04 Jul 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
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

PAYING THE POT PRICE

Coquitlam's inspection program hands out fines to owners of 21 
suspected grow op homes in first month of operation

Twenty-one Coquitlam homeowners have been slapped with hefty fines 
and had their power cut off in the last month as part of the city's 
crackdown on marijuana grow operations.

Since the one-year pilot Public Safety Inspection Program was 
launched about a month ago, 23 properties have been inspected by 
teams comprised of city building and bylaw inspectors, an electrical 
inspector, an RCMP officer and a member of Coquitlam Fire/Rescue.

Twenty-one of them have had their hydro shut off because of 
electrical fire safety hazards related to grow ops, said acting city 
solicitor Lisa Parkes, and their owners fined $5,000 for a follow-up 
safety inspection. (Power will not be reinstated to a flagged 
property until it has passed that inspection.)

In addition, more than $2,000 in fines have been levied against 
property owners for bylaw infractions related to building 
modifications, mould, interference with power, unauthorized occupancy 
and noxious odours or fumes.

Two homes were inspected without action: At one, investigators didn't 
have enough evidence to prove it housed a grow op; at the other, the 
owner was operating an unauthorized business to which the excessive 
power was attributed.

Once a residence is identified as having high energy consumption, the 
inspection team will do an exterior search of the home and give 48 
hours notice of an interior search. By that time, there usually isn't 
grow op-related equipment inside but other signs such as mould and 
altered electrical systems point toward the illegal activity, Parkes said.

Council approved the $1.3-million program in March, citing concerns 
about fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, dangerous mould, building 
code infractions and grow rips. The program is designed to recover 
all costs, including the hiring of four full-time staffers. Although 
an RCMP officer participates in every inspection, criminal 
investigations do not occur as a result.

"I think so far the program is doing what it's aiming to do, which is 
to get rid of these electrical safety issues and move the grow ops 
out of Coquitlam," Parkes said.

Officials say anyone who suspects there is a grow op in their 
neighbourhood should call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman