Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2001
Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL)
Copyright: 2001 News-Journal Corp
Contact:  http://www.n-jcenter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/700
Author: John Bozzo

DAYTONA BEACH HOPES TO END SALES OF 'DRUG PARAPHERNALIA'

DAYTONA BEACH -- Tourists Tom Coupe and Jennifer Sink laughed when they saw 
water pipes often favored by drug users for sale in the windows of Atlantic 
Avenue tourist shops.

"I was surprised, but not too surprised," said Coupe, who added that the 
pipes can be purchased in his hometown of Carbondale, Ill. "I don't do 
drugs, but I know what those pipes are for."

City officials hope to make the sale of such exotic pipes and accessories 
considered drug paraphernalia disappear like a puff of smoke. They plan to 
employ the same strategy the city has successfully used to crack down on 
nudity in local adult entertainment businesses.

That strategy would make the sale or display of drug paraphernalia a 
violation of a city ordinance. Instead of arresting the clerks on criminal 
charges, the owners of the businesses would face fines for code violations.

"We're not interested in prosecuting individual clerks," Deputy City Clerk 
Marie Hartman said Tuesday. "If we can go after stores and get compliance, 
that will achieve our purpose."

City commissioners gave preliminary approval to the plan in a 6-0 vote 
Wednesday. Commissioner George Burden was absent. Final action is expected 
at the commission's meeting Dec. 19.

Beachside Merchants Association President Paul Politis supports the new 
strategy as another step in shedding the "party 'till you puke" image in 
Daytona Beach.

"It's another piece of the puzzle in trying to attract family tourists and 
convention business, and even making the beachside more attractive to 
locals," Politis said.

Owners or managers at four stores visited Wednesday were not available or 
declined to comment. But a clerk at Sportwear USA on Seabreeze Boulevard 
and Atlantic Avenue, who gave her name only as Stephanie, said the city has 
already moved body piercing off the beachside and banned tattooing citywide.

"Now they want to take away the pipes," she said. "If they're (customers) 
not going to buy them here, they'll just by them someplace else and someone 
else will make the money."

Sportswear USA, like several other tourist gift stores offers a variety of 
water pipes and small ceramic, glass and metal pipes.

Although the pipes fit the state definition of illegal drug paraphernalia, 
stores continue offering the merchandise by stressing they're not for use 
with illegal drugs.

"They're for tobacco use only," Stephanie said.

City Attorney Robert Brown said the proposed ordinance will rely on a state 
law that certain items like bongs (water pipes) are designed only for use 
with illegal drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth