RCMP ARE ON PATROL FOR POT-SMOKING SKIERS, 'BOARDERS

Riding high to top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort on the gondola
could result in a trip of another kind - right back down the
"ganjola" and off the ski hill with a police escort.

Local police are stepping up their presence on the local ski hill
this year, on the look-out for marijuana smokers and users of other
illegal substances, such as alcohol.

Sgt. Rob DeBoersap of the Golden detachment RCMP said last week that,
in response to complaints by the skiiing public, police officers will
sometimes now be hanging out at the end of the gondola ride, ready
for a sniff of that tell-tale cloud of smoke as skiers and
snowboarders disembark.

Instead of "Have a good run," or "Welcome to Kicking Horse Mountain
Resort," from a liftie, skiers and 'boarders' could be greeted with
the words, "Hey, guess what? We have grounds to arrest you," from an
officer of the law.

Although they are off-duty, skiing police, who are there on a
voluntary basis, can still arrest scofflaws, either when they notice
the offences themselves or are called by resort personnel via radios.

They won't be obviously identified as police officers although they
will be wearing matching jackets, so locals will be able to recognize
them after a while, said DeBoersap.

Police were on the hill in previous years as well, but with less
presence. "Last year there weren't as many members interested in
participating and we weren't pushing it as much either, because we
recognize that with the growth and the resort will come more people
and with that there will be more problems," said DeBoersap.

Drinking alcohol outside of licensed establishments is contrary to
the Liquor Control Licensing Act which states that you are not
allowed to consume alcohol in a public place. On the slopes of the
ski hill, in the parking lot or behind the day lodge are all public
places, he said. The fine for drinking in public is $115.

As far as the resort's policy towards drugs and alcohol on the hill
how they deal with it depends on the situation, said Justin Downes,
the resort's area manager.

"In conjunction with the RCMP's zero tolerance on alcohol and drugs,
and the Alpine Responsibility Code, we have to ensure that not only
are the participants in any 'extracurricular activities' riding in a
safe manner but that other people are safe as well," said Downes.
"For people who are drinking or smoking up on the mountain, it is
unwise given the conditions. They should have their full faculties,"
he said.