IF YOU HAVE POT, YOU'LL PAY, CITY TELLS LANDLORDS

Coquitlam's new bylaw targeting pot farmers isn't meant to punish property
owners but to make them more aware of illegal activities in their homes,
says a city councillor.

"I hope that it will have a significant impact to encouraging owners of
property in the city to be more responsible and diligent to who they rent
to," said Coun. Fin Donnelly, vice-chair of the Livable Communities
Committee, which oversees policing.

RCMP estimates there are more than 500 marijuana grow-ops in Coquitlam and
Port Coquitlam.

Under the new regulation, Noxious or Offensive Business Activity Bylaw No.
3631, 2004, which received three readings Monday night, the city can enter
any home used for growing pot or for making methamphetamine to conduct
inspections.

According to the bylaw, a city inspector - defined as the manager of
development services, a bylaw or building inspector, firefighter or an RCMP
officer - can enter a suspect home for an inspection under provisions of
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If a drug lab is found, the city can
kick out the residents by revoking the occupancy permit and order
remediation, which will be paid by the homeowner.

Should the owner fail to clean up the home, the city will do it - and
charge the owner for the costs as well as for the police's costs for
dismantling. The expenses will be put on the owner's property tax bill.

Residents can't return until the home is cleaned and an additional $500
Special Safety Inspection has been done by the city, and approved for
occupancy.

Bylaw violations can result in a fine up to $5,000.

Donnelly said the bylaw is long overdue: Both the cities of Port Coquitlam
and Port Moody have had bylaws banning pot farms for several months now.

Donnelly has had first-hand experience with the destruction drug makers can
do: his childhood home in PoMo was turned into a grow-op by renters. "They
ripped out the walls. They put in a greenhouse. They just trashed the place
and stole everything and left," he said. "It was a real sad story for our
family."

The bylaw is expected to be adopted within the next month.