Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jun 2006
Source: Langley Advance (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.langleyadvance.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248
Author: Roxanne Hooper

WAR ON DRUGS: BYLAW CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS BEGINS

The Fight To Stop Sales Of Drug Paraphernalia Has Begun

Businesses are responding favourably to a proposed bylaw that will 
limit or prevent sale of drug paraphernalia.

City council is expected to approve the bylaw Monday. In advance of 
that, however, Langley RCMP Const. Laurine Croshaw and the city's 
chief licencing inspector Tim Hickey are making pre-emptive visits to 
some of the local stores known to carry such items.

Unlike some Lower Mainland communities, there are no stores in 
Langley City that deal exclusively with drug paraphernalia. But there 
are at least five corner stores or smoke shops that carry related 
items, Hickey told the Langley Advance.

He and Croshaw recently visited three of those stores, and are 
planning to visit the last two on Wednesday.

They'll be asking store owners to stop sales of all such items, or 
failing that explain the reporting process that will be introduced. 
Shop owners will be required to report to police the names and 
particulars of anyone buying anything "used or designed for" illegal 
drug consumption.

So far, the response has been good, Hickey said. "They all said they 
were going to comply with it [the new bylaw] without question."

Main Spot News has already taken a series of pipes off the shelf, and 
its owners said his store at 20569 Fraser Hwy. welcomes the bylaw.

"It's good," said owner Chang Lee. "I will not sell it anymore. I 
don't care. It's no problem, just a little bit."

Likewise, Douglas Park Market, at 20517 Douglas Cres., owner Jessica 
Oh said she's also discontinued carrying smoke pipes that are used 
for drug consumption.

"We don't sell anything anymore," Oh said. "Nothing."

These visits are not an attempt to strong arm the businesses, but 
rather educate businesses about the impending bylaw and ask for 
cooperation, Hickey said.

That said, he added: "I expect compliance."

Croshaw and Hickey are expecting to visit the remaining two known 
stores, Limited Editions Clothing & Collectibles and Stop 'n Shop on 
Wednesday morning.

The bylaw, Hickey insisted, is aimed at limiting people's access to 
items such as bongs, pipes, and papers. He said concerns raised about 
items that serve double duty, such as two-litre pop bottles, spoons, 
diabetic needles, and plastic baggies are not targeted by the bylaw.

Hickey noted he will be regularly monitoring these outlets, plus 
responding to reports from the public.

"We're being proactive and we're attempting to save the youth of our city."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman