PROPOSAL BEEFS UP DRUG FIGHT

Ordinance Provides New Arrest Powers

TAMPA - City Councilman Bob Buckhorn wants to make it easier for the city's
police officers to arrest drug dealers.

``Law abiding neighbors are prisoners in their own homes,'' Buckhorn told
the council Thursday. ``We have struggled with street-level drug dealers for
a long time.''

Buckhorn, city employees and police officers presented an ordinance to the
city council that would criminalize the behavior of drug dealers - flagging
down people, exchanging packages for money, getting in and out of cars on
the same street corner.

Now, officers must actually see the drug deal happen. If Buckhorn's
ordinance passes, officers could arrest someone if they see suspicious
behavior more than twice in one hour.

``This would give our officers one more weapon,'' Buckhorn said.

Police Officer Eric Houston, who worked on the plan, said it would transform
how officers do their jobs.

``There are 47 drug holes in the city,'' Houston said after the meeting.
``It's difficult to arrest. If this passes, we'll warn them twice and then
we can arrest.''

The ordinance is similar to a 1999 ordinance that made it illegal for
suspects in prostitution stings to ask that undercover officers expose
themselves.

Two Hillsborough County judges threw out criminal charges against two
defendants in 2001, basing their decisions on free speech issues. But the
ordinance was upheld in appellate court.

Buckhorn said the ordinance is a ``huge help in busting prostitutes.''

But some council members questioned whether the drug ordinance would stand
up to questions in court, too.

``I really don't think we'll have problems,'' Buckhorn said. ``We went to
great lengths to make sure no one would confuse these behaviors with normal
activity.''

Chairman Charlie Miranda said after the meeting that the ordinance is ``a
good move by all.''

``It's narrow and specific and I think it will help,'' Miranda said.

The council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Jan. 16.