COUNCILMAN CALLING FOR ANTI-RAVE LAW

One member of the Greenville County Council says he will urge his
colleagues to consider an ordinance discouraging or altogether
prohibiting the all-night psychedelic dance parties known as raves.

The comments by Councilman Joe Dill came after 70 people were
arrested last weekend on drug and disorderly conduct charges at a
Westside rave staged at the Carolina Metroplex on White Horse Road.

"This is outrageous," said Dill, who says he'll bring the subject of
raves up for discussion when the County Council reconvenes from its
summer break in August. "These things could turn into a major problem
if we don't deal with it. We don't need this in Greenville County,
and I will definitely do everything I can to make sure it doesn't
catch on here."

Six other County Council members interviewed by The Greenville News
said they agree with Dill that, at the very least, the panel must
make sure law enforcement is adequately equipped with laws to deal
with the events, which routinely draw partygoers from out of state.

Raves first came to the attention of Greenville authorities about two
years ago.

While all-night parties minus alcohol might sound good to parents, it
is what goes on under the surface that should be a big cause of
concern, authorities say.

Communities in Illinois and Florida have led the way in passing laws
to either discourage or ban raves. In North Carolina, the Charlotte
City Council earlier this year passed a 19-page ordinance aimed at
cracking down on raves.

Sheriff Sam Simmons said he intends to take a no-nonsense approach
toward dealing with the events, which feature loud, repetitive,
bass-driven music and laser light shows that enhance a drug user's
high. The drugs most commonly seen at raves are the so-called "club
drugs" - ecstasy, GHB and ketamine.

Ecstasy, widely considered the least dangerous of the drugs, produces
an enhanced sense of pleasure and self-confidence, as well as
psychedelic effects. As an amphetamine, it also increases energy
levels. But the most dangerous aspects of the drug are that it causes
dehydration and raise the body's temperature as high as 108 degrees.

Greenville County Chief Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis said there have
been at least two confirmed death cases here linked to overdoses from
GHB or other "club drugs."

"I feel sure we'll find many more due to the fact we are retesting
some older cases that were ruled undetermined and still awaiting
toxicology analysis on recent cases," Ellis said.

It was discovered only late last year that the so-called "club drugs"
weren't showing up on routine drug screens, Ellis said.

While Clemson University freshman Christy Belcher said she won't
disagree that some rave goers do take drugs, she said she is among
the many who enjoy the events without the use of illegal substances.
The 19-year-old was at the Greenville rave last weekend.

She said she goes for the music.

"It is extremely emotional,," said Belcher, who attended her first
rave about nine months ago. "I've never seen a violent act at one of
these, and I've always felt very safe"

People aren't expected to dance a certain way or dress a certain way,
she said. Everyone fits in.

"It provides everyone an opportunity to find a positive force in the
music," she said.

More raves are being scheduled for Greenville later this summer. They
are advertised via the Internet, in nightclubs and by word of mouth.

Raves are becoming more popular in Greenville because of laws that
have pushed promoters out of other areas, Simmons said. The one last
weekend at the Metroplex drew people from as far away as New York and
Indiana, he said.

Simmons said it could be difficult to pass anti-rave laws because
promoters are "technically just holding a dance party."

Officials in nearby Charlotte approached the issue of raves from an
enforcement standpoint with an ordinance outlining more stringent
limitations on dance halls through licensing, noise restrictions and
age limitations.

The ordinance says "young people are a treasured resource of this
community" and that their "health, safety and welfare is of primary
concern." It also says "raves" are "sites for the sale, possession
and use of illegal drugs" that "expose the uninitiated youth of our
city to drug activity" and "provide an arena for predatory-type
sexual crimes."

"When Charlotte is willing to make a statement that they are
concerned about their kids, it makes me very humble," Dill said. "We
are just sitting around, letting these things happen. And I'll do
everything I can to stop it."

Council Chairman Dozier Brooks said he'll support Dill's move to have
the item on the County Council's agenda at the Aug. 7 meeting.

"I'll do anything I possibly can because I'm totally against drugs,"
Brooks said.

Councilman Bunk Johnson agreed, saying "I think we should outlaw them
altogether."

Vice Chairman Scott Case and Councilman Bob Taylor said they'd first
like to meet with the sheriff before deciding exactly what action
should be taken.

"I think it would be wise for us to understand his concerns, look at
other ordinances that have been put on the books and figure out
exactly what kind or ordinance best suits Greenville," Case said. "If
law enforcement needs additional tools to combat these types of
havens for drugs, I think they will find a very receptive County
Council."

Councilman Steve Selby said something has to be done to underscore
Greenville County's pro-family values stance.

"Some of our children are apparently too naive to understand exactly
what these things can do to them," Selby said. "They think it is a
big party or dance, but there is a much bigger agenda for most of the
people who go to these things. Parents ought to go out there before
they allow their kids to go and get a firsthand look at some of the
zombies who are out on the dance floor."

"I'd be willing to do anything to help stop this," Councilman Mark
Kingsbury said. "If this were a disease, we would consider it an
epidemic. It is scary, and I would support whatever we can do to stop
these from happening."