IOWA HOUSE VOTES TO FORBID POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

DES MOINES -- The Iowa House voted Wednesday to create a criminal offense
for possessing drug paraphernalia despite objection that it would let
police arrest people for having common household items.

By a 84-7 margin, representatives agreed to establish a statewide crime
that would be a simple misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a
fine ranging from $50 to $500 for possessing a wide list of items,
including bongs, roach clips, cans, punctured metal bowls, miniature
cocaine spoons and hypodermic syringes.

"Folks, we're in a drug war, and House File 2421 will give officers in the
front line a tool in this fight," said Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield.

Proponents said similar ordinances are in effect in Iowa cities and are
working effectively, but opponents worried that the broadly written
legislation does not require the presence of drug residue on a suspected
object at the time of an arrest.

"I've got enough objects on my desk that I could be busted right now," said
Rep. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, during Wednesday's floor debate.

"This bill is so general that I don't think there's a household item that
you couldn't claim to be drug paraphernalia."

Rep. Dick Myers, D-Iowa City, objected that the bill is contrary to the
constitutional protection that citizens are considered innocent until
proven guilty.