Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jun 2015
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2015 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-letters-to-the-editor-htmlstory.html
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Author: Susannah Bryan

HALLANDALE MAY RELAX PENALTY FOR HAVING MARIJUANA

HALLANDALE BEACH - People caught with a bag of marijuana weighing 
less than 20 grams would face a fine instead of arrest under a plan 
pushed by Commissioner Keith London.

Hallandale Beach may be the first city in Broward County to embrace 
the relaxed law.

London says he has been following a similar push by elected leaders 
in Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County to treat misdemeanor possession 
of marijuana as a civil offense with a $100 fine.

Miami-Dade commissioners are expected to vote on the plan June 30. 
Miami Beach has already given preliminary approval to a similar proposal.

"If it's good enough for Miami Beach, why isn't it good enough for 
Hallandale?" London asked before pitching the idea to commissioners 
during a City Hall meeting Monday evening.

"These aren't dealers," London said. "This doesn't change state law 
in any form. But it gives some discretion to the police department."

Hallandale Beach commissioners agreed to bring London's proposal back 
for a formal vote at a later date. Officers would make the final 
decision on whether to make an arrest or issue the fine . Hallandale 
Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy said the plan warranted a 
"worthwhile discussion." But he stopped short of saying it was a good idea.

"Some people may think it's a money grab," Flournoy said. "I do 
believe these cases don't need to be clogging up the courts and 
police resources. The devil is in the details."

Flournoy said staff at City Hall will be tasked with researching how 
the program would work.

The chief questioned whether a fine would be appropriate for someone 
who already has a criminal record. He also wondered whether a fine 
would be issued to a person more than once.

Still, he predicted the relaxed rules might find favor with other 
cities throughout South Florida.

"I think every chief in Broward County may get a call this week from 
their elected officials asking them to look at what Miami Beach is 
doing," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom