Pubdate: Fri, 26 May 2000
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2000, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Forum: http://forums.theglobeandmail.com/
Author: Gay Abbate and Roma Luciw

RAVERS SCOFF AT POLICE REQUEST FOR BROADER POWERS

Coroner's Inquest Into Student's Death Retires To Consider Measures To
Prevent Further Problems At All-Night Dance Parties

Toronto -- Police in Ontario should be given broad new powers to shut down
raves at the first sign of any illegal drug activity, a Toronto inquest was
told yesterday.

But ravers scoffed at the notion, saying that designer drugs such as ecstasy
are available everywhere.

"If they [police] see drugs and they're going to shut down a party, why
don't they just shut down schools? There's just as many kids there doing
drugs," said a raver outside the inquest building.

Laura, a 16-year-old who like other ravers interviewed would give her only
her first name, attended the hearing into the ecstasy-related death of Allan
Ho in October to hear closing submissions.

"If they're concerned about our safety, why would they try to push these
things underground?" she asked. "Allan Ho, he should have been smarter about
it."

Laura and fellow ravers packed the final day of the inquest to hear
recommendations by lawyers on behalf of seven clients, including Toronto
police, the Toronto Dance Safety Committee and the promoter of the rave
where the 20-year-old university student collapsed and died.

The jury has retired to consider measures to prevent further deaths and to
determine how Mr. Ho died. The jurors will present their findings and
recommendations next week.

Though lawyers representing different clients put forward some of the same
recommendations among the 50 presented to the jury yesterday, their varying
arguments reflect the divide between the rave industry and law-enforcement
officials.

One recommendation that irked young people at the inquest was the idea
proposed by Louis Sokolov on behalf of the Dance Safety Committee that
people under 16 be barred from raves.

Max Izod, 29, who has been raving for the past eight years, said he doesn't
think an age limit will stop those under 16 from attending rave parties.
"They'll just go to other illegal parties," he said.

Mr. Sokolov also suggested that cost of admission to raves be increased by
50 cents, with the money going to pay for education programs aimed at
ravers.

The jury was told that the use of designer drugs such as ecstasy should
become a reportable disease and that Health Canada should fund a study into
their toxic effects.

Many ravers at the hearing worried about the portrayal of their community at
the inquest. "These old people, they're not trying to understand us. They're
afraid they'll find something they don't want to," said 15-year-old Winston.
The three women and two men on the jury are of an older generation.

The teenager's concern was echoed in the courtroom by Crown attorney Paul
McDermott, who represented the Coroner.

"This is an establishment process by an older generation looking into the
activities of a younger generation," he said of the inquest. "We should keep
that in mind, but that can't stop us," he told the jurors.

Victoria Shen, 25, who has been going to raves for four years, said that
only the negative side of the rave culture is being portrayed to the public.
She agreed with a recommendation from several of the lawyers that the rave
community be involved in any legislated changes and educational programs.

"The protocols they're calling for are important for safe events," she said.
"But we need to be involved."

A more controversial recommendation was presented by David Collins of the
Toronto Harm Reduction Task Force. He proposed on-site legal testing at all
raves of ecstasy capsules or tablets check their content. This is common
practice in Los Angeles and some European countries.

"Legal testing of drugs will let people be clear on what they are taking,"
he told the jury.

Frequent reference was made at the inquest to environmental concerns at
raves, such as proper exits, running water, good ventilation, washrooms, and
location. The fear expressed is that safety issues will be compromised if
raves are forced underground, like the parking garage where Mr. Ho died.

Marites, a petite 18-year-old girl with pigtail coils and a light-blue
baseball cap sprinkled with gold stickers, saw Mr. Ho being carried out of
the building.

"He was with friends who didn't even know something was wrong with him," she
said. "The conditions at that party were really horrible. It was dark and
really dirty."

SOME RAVE RECOMMENDATIONS

* Health officials and police be present at raves to ensure safety and
security;

* The federal government revive the National Drug Awareness Strategy and
provide appropriate resources to ensure its success;

* The federal government consider making illegal the chemical substances
used in clandestine laboratories to make designer drugs such as ecstasy;

* The courts recognize the need for tougher sentences for those who sell
drugs to young people;

* Toronto Council establish a fair and affordable licensing and permit
system for raves;

Promoters who distribute promotional materials that include an obvious
association between a rave and drugs be denied a permit or licence for the
rave;

* Search areas at raves be marked with warnings that anyone found with an
illegal drug will not be admitted, will be removed from the premises, and
possibly arrested;

* Council immediately lift the ban on raves on city-owned property.
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