Pubdate: Sat, 08 Apr 2006 Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Richmond Public Library Contact: http://www.richmondreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704 Author: Kevin Diakiw Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) POLICE TO GAIN POWER TO ACCESS HYDRO BILLS Heavy users of electricity will be reported to police under a new bill introduced in the legislature this week. Near the end of this month, municipalities will have BC Hydro records on demand, data which will be turned over to police to determine whether spikes in power use were caused by a marijuana grow-operation. Marijuana grow-ops require high power consumption, typically three to 10 times the amount used by a normal home. "This amendment will help local authorities target and shut down marijuana grow operations more quickly and more efficiently," Minister of Public Safety John Les said in the legislature Thursday, as he introduced Bill 25. "With these amendments, municipalities will now be able to obtain information from electricity companies about residences with unusual power consumption." The names and addresses of the account holders will now be given to local authorities to investigate whether their homes contain a grow operation, he said. One of the main impediments, investigators say, has been the time- consuming process of acquiring BC Hydro information through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. To obtain a freedom-of-information request, the city first had to have tips from neighbours. Now the investigation process will be reversed: power records first, then assessment. Jason Gratl, president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said the legislation seems "neither necessary or desirable." He notes there are enough marijuana grow-operations to keep police busy for a long time, without the use of power records. "It all seems a little much for such a purpose," Gratl said. "This is one part of a larger tendency of this provincial government to attempt to simplify the investigative techniques of the RCMP by providing the police with access to information from other sources." - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl