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Few Complaints About Grow-op Cleanup Fees
Pubdate: Mon, 10 Jan 2005
Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Vancouver Courier
Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474
Author: Mike Howell
FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT GROW-OP CLEANUP FEES
In just six months, the city has issued almost $157,000 in penalties to
landlords whose houses and buildings contained marijuana growing
operations. But only two of the property owners have complained.
Carlene Robbins, manager of the city's bylaw administration branch, said
the police Growbusters unit busted 92 drug operations since June, which led
to each landlord receiving a $1,700 penalty.
"We've had two complaints, including one person at the counter [at city
hall] who was kind of going ballistic about this whole idea, but other than
that, I haven't heard anything," Robbins said. "I'm not sure what to read
into that. In some cases, if they were involved with the grow-op, then
they're not saying anything. If they were innocent, I'm not sure why more
people aren't complaining?"
Added Robbins: "I guess they're just accepting it. I'm quite surprised, I
did expect much more of a reaction than I've gotten so far."
The $1,700 penalty became law in June to help the city recoup costs of
busting a grow-op or drug lab. The $1,700 charge is the estimated cost for
police, firefighters and city inspectors to dismantle a drug operation.
Council also gave Robbins' department authority to charge landlords for
cleanup costs associated with clandestine drug labs. A police bust of a
crystal methamphetamine lab at a warehouse in the 700-block Terminal in
November cost $2,658 to clean up.
Add that amount to the $1,700 penalty, and then factor in the $1,400 a
landlord must pay the city in inspection and permit fees to allow a former
drug house to be occupied again, and it could cost the landlord almost
$6,000 for a grow-op or drug lab on their property.
Robbins noted that cost doesn't include the expense of repairing the
property from grow-op damage, which is a big financial hit for the innocent
landlord who thought he was renting to a credible tenant.
Whether the landlord in the drug lab case will want to pay the costs to
have the warehouse re-occupied is unknown, but Robbins noted the $1,700
penalty and the $2,658 clean-up tab are automatically added to the
landlord's tax notice.
When police bust a drug lab, the city immediately sends a notice to the
landlord explaining his property was being used for drug production. The
penalty then shows up on the tax notices issued in February and July.
Although the police Growbusters unit busted 92 grow-ops, police from other
sections also busted a number of indoor marijuana farms. On average, police
eliminate several hundred marijuana grow-ops a year in Vancouver.
Robbins, however, noted police aren't getting as many complaints from the
public about grow-ops. Public education and ongoing enforcement could be
reasons, she said.
"We're not sure if it's because [operators] are more sophisticated and
hiding them better, or that there has been a decline in the number. But we
still believe there's a lot out there."
Vancouver police media liaison Sarah Bloor said the department dismantled
224 grow-ops in 2004, 378 in 2003 and 351 in 2002.
A pound of marijuana fetches $2,500 to $3,000 on the street, with its value
increasing the further south of the border that it's sold. Mayor Larry
Campbell believes marijuana should be legalized while Police Chief Jamie
Graham calls it a "gateway" drug to other drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
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