Pubdate: Fri, 14 Nov 2008
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Author: Heather Colpitts

DRUG SUPPLIES TARGETED

Bing, bong. City inspectors will come calling, on the hunt for 
illegal drug paraphernalia.

Langley City staff will be looking for the devices used for drugs.

The City will be doing inspections of retailers to ensure they are 
complying with the 2006 bylaw that prohibits the sale of drug paraphernalia.

In June 2006, City council adopted the Drug Paraphernalia bylaw (no. 
2624) regulating the sale of drug paraphernalia as a crime prevention strategy.

"To date, the response from City businesses to this bylaw has been 
excellent," said administrator Francis Cheung. "In order to maintain 
this positive record of compliance and reinforce the significance of 
the bylaw, City officials will be conducting inspections of 
businesses to ensure compliance."

The bylaw was developed in response to concerns from the Downtown 
Langley Merchants Association (DLMA) and School District No. 35 
regarding the sale of drug paraphernalia product.

Mayor Peter Fassbender said the bylaw is a component of the crime 
prevention strategy.

"The community relies on the continuing cooperation of its residents 
and businesses to discourage the proliferation of illegal drugs and 
drug-related crime," he said.

He said stores once in a while try to sell such items but the public 
is alert and report when they see them.

The City has done random inspections as well since bringing in the 
bylaw. Drug paraphernalia sales are illegal anywhere in the City 
under that bylaw.

Anyone wanting more information on the law or the inspections can 
call Cheung at 604-514-2805.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart