Pubdate: Tuesday, November 2, 1999 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 1999, The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Page: B3 Author: Rebecca Bragg, Toronto Star City Hall Bureau POLICE SAY RAVES CAN'T BE STOPPED Laws Called Too Weak To Halt Huge Parties Weak bylaws rendered Toronto police virtually powerless to tone down a weekend party attended by about 15,000 people, despite reports of rampant drug trafficking, a police spokesperson says. And until communities thrash out ways of putting public safety before profit at similar gatherings, ``the potential for disaster is just astronomical,'' said Inspector Randal Munroe. Responding to criticism by local politicians that police had ignored noise complaints from area residents over the rave at The Docks complex at Polson and Cherry Sts., Munroe said officers did as much as they could, legally and safely. During the 12-hour rave, officers ``tried to get the sound turned down and monitor the complaints,'' Munroe said. ``We didn't ignore it. What we tried to do is manage it.'' According to councillors Tom Jakobek and Sandra Bussin, who both represent East Toronto, many enraged people who phoned their homes in the middle of the night said the police claimed they couldn't intervene because the event had been granted a city permit. However, Harold Bratten, acting executive director of municipal licensing and standards, said that ``no permit was applied for or granted'' to party organizers. Consequently, neither councillors nor noise control officials were given advance notice of the event. But Munroe said that the establishment had no need of a special permit because the business permit already granted by the city was sufficient. ``The Docks is sitting on city-owned land. They have a lease from the city, they have a business permit and they have a liquor licence,'' he told The Star. Under the terms of its business permit, the establishment can have a sound system out on its patio, he said. Consequently, the issue of whether sound levels are excessive should be decided by city noise abatement officials, who were in fact contacted by police, Munroe noted. According to more than 20 off-duty officers who were paid by party organizers to keep order, drug trafficking was ``absolutely rampant'' inside the four huge tents set up at the foot of Polson St. on the waterfront, and six arrests were made, Munroe said. And while there were ``probably hundreds of (drug) dealers'' in the crowd, he said, the fact that no liquor was being served meant that police were limited in their ability to lay charges against management. ``They purposely don't serve liquor so it won't affect their liquor licence and hence their operating licence,'' he said. The party, organized by Dose and Syrous Productions, was to be held at the Toronto Congress Centre on Dixon Rd., but was moved to the outdoor location because of ``overwhelming demand,'' according to the party's information line. The promoters could not be immediately reached for comment last night. No charges were laid at the party, but Bratten said the city is launching an investigation that may result in charges under noise bylaws. He admitted that the penalty for infractions - $200 to $500 for a first offence - would likely be seen more as ``the cost of doing business.'' However, with at least 15,000 people in attendance, ``it's inappropriate to suggest that the police can just walk in there and pull the plug,'' he said. Over the past couple of months, three people have died at raves and more deaths will occur unless the community puts social consequences before profit, Munroe said. ``If we're going to have situations where the drugs are so rampant and the numbers so great that (raves) become virtually impossible to police, then I think we've got to go to the front end of the process,'' he said. ``We have to look at the way we conduct city business permits and bylaws.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart