POLICE: EXPAND NO-DRUG ZONES

Portland may designate more than 100 playgrounds, parks and
recreation areas as "drug-free safe zones," enabling tougher
penalties for drug activity there.

The safe zones are patterned after legislation that leads to more
serious charges for drug dealing that occurs within 1,000 feet of a
school. A misdemeanor drug offense that occurs within a safe zone
could be treated as a felony with much more serious penalties.

"We always take drug trafficking seriously. This is an area where we
would put special attention to ensure there would not be any drug
activity," said Lt. Anthony Ward, head of the city's community policing unit.

"Protecting children is the ultimate goal of doing this. There are
other environments outside of school where kids meet on a regular
basis," Ward said.

The law giving communities authority to create the zones was passed
last year by the state Legislature and recently took effect. The
City Council's Public Safety Committee will take up the proposal at
its meeting Jan. 12.

Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Cantara said the law
reflects legislators' commitment to keeping drugs out of the hands
of young people.

"It allows municipalities to declare as a matter of public policy
that areas that tend to attract children should be made safe from
the potential harm and ravages of drugs," Cantara said.

Creating the zones is "letting not only young people, but the public
at large know the use and sale of drugs in those areas is all the
more serious given the fact that young people's brains are still
developing," he said.

Cantara believes the rarity of drug crimes within 1,000 feet of a
school compared with the number of drug crimes overall suggests that
the philosophy works - that many people involved in drug activity
intentionally avoid school areas.

The Police Department is proposing a long list of safe zones,
including 21 athletic fields, 51 parks, 29 playgrounds and 41
recreation facilities. Each zone would have to be marked with signs
reading "Drug-Free Safe Zone, Increased Penalties for Drug Crimes
Committed Within this Zone." The signs would serve as a reminder of
the areas' special status for would-be criminals - regardless of age.

"The safe zone doesn't differentiate between adolescent drug
traffickers or the 25- or 30-year-old, the adult, doing it," Ward said.

In addition to the message sent by the creation of safe zones, the
reality of the tougher drug penalties should cut down on crime near
those areas, Ward said.

"Aggravating the potential sentencing makes sure someone dealing
(drugs) in the area of children has a stronger probability of being
sentenced for a longer period," Ward said. "The extended benefit of
this is when you move that element out of those areas, then other
crimes would diminish in those areas as drugs move away."

It's an argument that makes sense to Randee Bucknell, parent of a
9-year-old and president of the Adams School Parent Teacher Organization.

"I think stiffer penalties for that type of behavior, especially
where children congregate, is long overdue," Bucknell said.

"Not only is drug activity undesirable, but a lot of people who are
involved in drug activity also do other things that are socially
unacceptable," she said. "I mean, we are raising the next
generation. I think minimal exposure to socially unacceptable
behavior is beneficial."