Pubdate: Fri, 28 Mar 2008
Source: Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.dailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/107
Author: Justin Kmitch
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

AURORA MAYOR LEADING PUSH FOR STRICTER METH PENALTIES

Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner will join several area state  legislators 
Monday to unveil two pieces of legislation  to create stricter 
penalties for those convicted of  crystal meth-related crimes.

The proposals, drafted by Democratic state Sen. Linda  Chapa LaVia of 
Aurora, will call for stiffer custody  rights penalties for parents 
charged with making,  selling or using the drug. The second proposal 
calls  for stiffer punishments related to fires caused by 
the  process of making the deadly drug cocktail.

"Meth use and the process of making it used to be a  rural phenomenon 
and is now moving into the cities,"  Weisner said Friday. "We haven't 
experienced a big  problem out here, but we don't want to either, so 
we're  trying to be proactive."

The announcement is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday at  the Aurora 
Community Center Police Area 2 Facility at  the corner of Root Street 
and College Avenue.

Weisner said the announcement was sparked by Tuesday's  $3 million 
methamphetamine bust at a lab on Chicago's  northwest side.

"That's just more proof that we're seeing these labs  creep into the 
cities," Weisner said. "And we need to  get them out."

More details are expected to be unveiled Monday.

The public is invited to attend the announcement and is  asked to 
RSVP by calling (630) 844-4731.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom