POLICE EXPLAINING METH CRACKDOWN TO RETAILERS'

Scottsdale police have met with drug retailers to explain an
ordinance requiring them to keep a record of the names, birth dates
and addresses of every customer who purchases a product containing
pseudoephedrine or ephedrine - drugs that can be used to make methamphetamine.

Starting Feb. 13, stores will also record the amount of medicine each
customer purchases.

"Methamphetamine is an epidemic in Scottsdale," police Lt. Steve
Gessell said. "The main premise is every little bit helps, and this
is making it more difficult for cooks to get pseudoephedrine." advertisement

Similar ordinances will soon take effect in Apache Junction and
Chandler, while Tempe and Mesa city councils have studied the issue.

Phoenix has already launched its version of the measure, which
requires its retailers to submit the records to police each month for
inspection.

Scottsdale's ordinance will only require stores to hold onto the
information for 90 days in case police choose to look at it.