US CA: BILL TARGETS DRUG USE AT RAVE PARTIES

Dance Promoters Would Be Required To Sign A Pledge Not To Ignore Such Activity.

If you're under your folks' roof and want to party, don't tell your parents
you're going to a rave.

The high-energy dance events, with laser light shows, pulsating beats and
tons of teens, have earned a reputation as being havens for rampant drug use.

Supporters of legislation that would make promoters of large rave parties
put in writing a pledge not to ignore drug use say raves have earned their
dubious reputation for good reason.

"There is a high incidence of illegal drug activity at these events," said
John Lovell, the legislative advocate for the primary sponsor of the bill,
the California Narcotics Officers Association.

Making matters worse, said Lovell, "many promoters of rave events turn a
blind eye to the extent of drug use going on."

Law enforcement officials say that while other "club drugs" are present,
Ecstasy is the drug of choice at rave parties.

"Ecstasy is to raves what rocket fuel is to the space shuttle: Neither gets
off the ground without it. Its abuse by ravers cannot be understated,"
wrote retired Sgt. James P. Mock in material being distributed by the
bill's author, Assemblywoman Sally Havice, D-Cerritos.

In addition to making promoters of large rave events say in writing that
they won't condone or ignore drug use or sales, the bill, AB 1941, requires
that the promoter present evidence that he has enough knowledge of illicit
drugs so he can identify the drugs. The bill also requires that the local
permitting authority let the police know about a proposed rave event.

There is no formal opposition, and the bill has not received any "no" votes
as it heads to the Assembly floor, but rave promoters contacted by The Bee
say they wish the well-intentioned lawmakers would cool their heels.

"I don't think raves are a problem," said DJ Pat, an area disc jockey and
party promoter. "I think kids on drugs is a problem."

DJ Pat -- whose real name is Patrick Ibbetson -- said the state should
focus on the problem without attacking raves.

"There is nothing inherently dangerous about an electric dance event," said
Andy W, part-time DJ, raver and Bay Area rave organizer.

Both men acknowledge that drug use occurs at some rave events.

Though DJ Pat admits some people got into the rave scene to sell drugs, he
said drugs aren't used or sold at all raves. DJ Pat says there were no
problems at the dance party he hosted last week at the old Sacramento Army
Depot.

Andy W -- Andy Wyszkowski away from the music scene -- asks why the bill
isolates raves and does not address concerts or other events where drugs
are just as likely to be used.

Nick Finn, chairman of the legislative action committee for the San
Francisco Late Night Coalition, said the bill illustrates the larger issue
of police seeking to link music with criminal behavior, and says raves and
electronic music are being picked on.

"It's sort of what rock 'n' roll went though," Finn said.

Havice and Lovell say the bill isolating a specific problem isn't trying to
do away with raves but rather to rein in irresponsible promoters by giving
local permitting authorities more information. The bill creates no new
crimes, nor does it increase punishments.

The focus is on raves because of the high number of minors attending rave
events and the rampant drug use, say supporters of the legislation.

Government-sanctioned raves often have no alcohol sales and thus can admit
minors.

Media coverage of rave events has also fueled the drive to curb drug use at
raves.

"Raves are ... on the hot seat now," Andy W said. But not always for good
reason, DJ Pat said.

DJ Pat points out that while nearly every news report on Ecstasy mentions
its popularity at raves, when an area youth died from Ecstasy use late last
month, the fact that Nicole Ann Crowder, 17, died at a private party -- not
a rave -- was almost lost.

The fact that the teenager died at a house party illustrates another point
made by the rave promoters. They say public parties where the promoter has
asked for a permit are less likely to be dangerous than an underground party.

Getting an event permit in Sacramento and much of the Bay Area already
includes notifying the police and hiring private security guards. The same
is not true for raves held at rural locations, in abandoned warehouses or
after hours at established locations. And for every city-sanctioned rave,
there are plenty of smaller events.

"(True) raves are supposed to be underground, word of mouth," DJ Pat said.