Pubdate: Sun, 23 Nov 2003
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Section: Crime & Courts
Copyright: 2003 The Des Moines Register.
Contact: http://DesMoinesRegister.com/help/letter.html
Website: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Colleen Krantz, Register Staff Writer
Note: Part of a series on methamphetamine - see 
http://www.mapinc.org/source/Des+Moines+Register

VIA ID PLAN, HAZLETON BECOMES A NO-HELP ZONE FOR METH MAKERS

Hazleton, Ia. - Shopping for Aleve Cold and Sinus?

Be prepared to show photo identification.

Hazleton, an eastern Iowa town of 950, has adopted an aggressive ordinance 
requiring stores to monitor the sales of cold medicine, starting fluid and 
other products used to make methamphetamine.

Some chuckled at the idea. How could the farming community hope to make a 
dent in the state's meth problem by regulating sales at its single 
convenience store?

Then, however, came some surprising reactions: Leaders from other Iowa 
towns started calling to obtain copies of the ordinance. The Governor's 
Office of Drug Control Policy began passing it around. Several towns 
adopted a version.

"You could almost argue Hazleton is ahead of the surrounding state," said 
Marvin Van Haaften, Office of Drug Control Policy director. "I find some 
humor in it, but I also respect them for doing it."

The Hazleton ordinance works like this: If someone wants to buy items 
containing pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus or other chemicals used to make 
meth, he must show identification and sign a log. The sheriff's department 
checks the list of names from time to time.

"We felt this was at least something we could start doing, even though it 
had not been done in any other areas (of Iowa) that we are aware of," 
Hazleton City Councilwoman Virginia Steil said.

The Pronto Market is ground zero for enforcement of the ordinance in 
Hazleton. It is the only business in town that sells most of the relevant 
products. Several dozen names have ended up on the store's log.

"A couple people get upset and yell, saying it's an invasion of their 
privacy," said Pronto clerk Tara Makepeace, filling a warming oven with 
slices of pepperoni pizza.

Some walk out. Those who have heard of the ordinance and are concerned 
about Iowa's meth problem are more understanding.

The way Hazleton Mayor Wayne Holliday sees it, a person shouldn't care 
unless he has something to hide. "Someone who is legitimate normally 
wouldn't have a problem with it," he said.

Holliday knows the ordinance is, for the most part, symbolic. No one 
expects it to stop methamphetamine use, because meth "cooks" can do their 
shopping in the next town. Still, he wonders what could be accomplished if 
more communities followed Hazleton's example.

Marquette, a Mississippi River town, adopted a version of Hazleton's 
ordinance in July. Neighboring McGregor followed. The Keokuk County sheriff 
will try to persuade his county board to adopt it.

"There have been discussions with a number of other communities," said 
Buchanan County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Coleman, who originally suggested the 
ordinance to Hazleton's City Council. "People are kind of sitting right 
now, waiting to see what kind of response Hazleton gets."

The state attorney general's office looked over the ordinance for Van 
Haaften and didn't see any glaring problems. It's unclear whether it would 
hold up in court.

Bret Lau, manager of the Pronto in Hazleton, said the ordinance wouldn't be 
practical in larger cities. The lists of names would be too long for law 
enforcement to sort through, he said.

Large retail stores, many of which already have policies aimed at 
discouraging use of their products in making meth, probably would resist a 
Hazleton-type practice if it upset customers, Lau said. Plus, the store is 
the one fined if there is a violation.

"If you get into a bigger town, most people won't put up with it - unless 
it's very well-publicized," Lau said.

A state legislator plans to propose restrictions on 
pseudoephedrine-containing medication. Rep. Clel Baudler's proposal would, 
like the Hazleton ordinance, require shoppers to show identification and 
sign a log. It would also limit a person to two packets of pseudoephedrine 
tablets at a time.

His proposal is modeled after a new Missouri law limiting shoppers to a 
maximum of two packages at a time or 6 grams of medicine with 
pseudoephedrine as the sole active ingredient. It also restricts where or 
how the allergy and cold medicine may be displayed.

"I have critics who say it's too restrictive, that it won't help," said 
Baudler, a Republican from Greenfield. "They say, "If we hit this so hard, 
they'll just go to using ecstasy." But in my opinion, you've got to keep 
fighting." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake