Pubdate: Fri, 08 Feb 2008
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Author: Nelson Bennett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

CITY STANDS BEHIND INSPECTION BYLAW

The chair of the city's community safety committee is standing behind 
a bylaw that targets residential marijuana grow-ops, despite strong 
public reaction against it.

Earlier this week, the News reported Lee and Fay Jensen were 
subjected to a search of their home by the RCMP and city officials 
under the city's electrical safety inspection program. The bylaw is 
aimed at addressing hazards resulting from the rewiring that is often 
done to power marijuana grow operations.

A monthly $200 electrical bill triggered an inspection of the 
Jensens' home on Jan. 30. The inspection, one of 106 to take place so 
far, revealed neither a grow-op nor any problems with the Jensens' 
electrical system.

A number of readers have written or called the News expressing 
concern. Some wondered if they would be next, or if they could be hit 
with a $3,500 inspection bill if inspectors find a minor violation, 
like too many electrical plugs on one power bar.

Minor infractions, like no smoke alarms or "over-plugging," will not 
result in an inspection fee, said city hall spokeswoman Cynthia 
Lockrey. "If people are not doing anything illegal, they will not be charged."

Coun. Harold Steves thinks council needs to be asking some questions 
about the way the program is being administered.

"I think it's important we know exactly what the guidelines are for 
power use before we start deciding to go into someone's house," he 
said. "I think it is important that people are protected from the 
police or the city going onto their property on a whim."

Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt, who chairs the city's community safety 
committee, said she does not think the bylaw needs revisiting.

"There needs to be cooperation by people," she said. "They ask us to 
protect them and then when we put in mechanisms to protect them, they 
complain. You can't have it both ways."

However, she said she might want to take another look at another 
bylaw that was also designed to address the problem of grow-ops in 
residential areas.

Under that bylaw, landlords in Richmond are obliged to inspect their 
properties at least once every three months. If they don't, and if a 
grow-op or drug lab is found in one of their rental properties, they 
could be hit with a sizeable bill to cover the costs of remediation 
and police, fire and city inspections.

It has been suggested the inspection periods be increased because 
drug labs can be set up and dismantled in less than three months. 
Halsey-Brandt said she is willing to take another look at the bylaw, 
although she has concerns that it could be misused.

"I think what a landlord could do, such as Amacon with that poor 
tenant on Gilbert Road," she said, referring to Laara Raynier, who 
has been fighting Amacon Property Management Services over evictions 
at Richmond Gardens. Raynier is suing Amacon for harassment. An 
inspection under the city's marijuana grow-op bylaw is one of the 
alleged incidents of harassment cited. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake