HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-Type: text/html Trustee Proposes Drug-Sniffing Dogs, Drug-Free Zones
Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 2004
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2004 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?217 (Drug-Free Zones)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

TRUSTEE PROPOSES DRUG-SNIFFING DOGS, DRUG-FREE ZONES FOR SCHOOLS; STIFFER 
PENALTIES

ABBOTSFORD - Drug-sniffing dogs could be in Abbotsford schools as early as 
September if a school board motion passes May 17.

Trustee Uultsje DeJong introduced the motion, saying "I think the drug 
issue itself is high on all trustees' list. . . . We're going to do what we 
can to try to stop it."

The motion calls for the school district, Abbotsford police department, 
federal Crown prosecutor's office and the municipality to create two-block 
drug-free zones around schools, as well as using drug-detection dogs.

DeJong proposes that anyone -- students or the public -- caught disobeying 
drug laws within the zones be subject to stricter penalties. Anyone caught 
with drugs for the purpose of trafficking would face triple the normal 
penalty, including fines, probation, community service hours or jail time. 
Anyone caught with drugs for personal use will be subject to twice the 
usual penalties.

"It's meant to be a deterrence," said DeJong. "If we're serious about the 
drug problem . . . we need to make sure we do this."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom