WHITBY PASSES FORTIFICATION BYLAW

WHITBY -- A new bylaw has been passed regulating the fortification of
land, fencing and other structures in the Town of Whitby.

The bylaw, passed Oct. 23 to deal with outlawed motorcycle gangs and
marijuana grow house operations, regulates barriers typically used to
impede access by police and emergency services personnel. In
September, police raided a semi-fortified clubhouse used by outlaw
bikers in central Oshawa as part of a massive raid by officials from
across the province that resulted in the arrest of 27 bikers and
associates, primarily on drug charges.

Councillor Joe Drumm said he asked the planning department to draft
the bylaw following a meeting with Durham Police Chief Vernon White,
who expressed concern the bikers who called the semi-fortified
clubhouse home may start looking at neighbouring municipalities to
take up residence.

"I was a meeting with the chief of police and he said they'll be
looking to go somewhere else," Coun. Drumm said. "That's his concern
and it's our concern as well.

"I know that Clarington has a bylaw and so does Scugog, and I think
Pickering has one. We want to make sure we have a bylaw in place so
that they don't take that fortification building they have over there
(in Oshawa) and emulate it in Whitby, or anywhere else. That's why
the bylaw was brought in," he said.

Elements governed by the new bylaw include armoured or specially
reinforced doors or windows; metal grills and bars on doors, windows
and other openings that "limit the rapid entrance into or exit from a
building;" observation towers; masonry over windows and doorways, and
other "excessive protective elements" that restrict or impede access
by police, firefighters, ambulance personnel or building and bylaw officers.

Coun. Drumm said the new bylaw will help the Town position itself to
protect citizens from similar buildings being constructed in Whitby.

"Other municipalities have it to protect themselves from happening in
their community, and I think Whitby needs one and should have one so
that we can protect ourselves and our community," he said.