PROPOSED BYLAW CRITICIZED FOR FLOUTING RIGHTS OF LANGLEY TENANTS

A proposed Langley bylaw that would allow police, landlords and city
officials to enter renters' homes at will was scoffed at Sunday by the
president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.

"It wouldn't last 10 or 20 seconds in court," said Craig Jones, barely
unable to contain his laughter at the proposal, which is aimed at curbing an
outbreak of marijuana - growing operations in rental properties. "It is
monstrously unconstitutional and goes against every constitutional tenant
laid down since the Magna Carta."

The bylaw, an amendment to the business licence bylaw, would require anyone
renting a property to buy a business licence. It would also give city
officials, landlords and the police the right to enter a tenant's house at
any time and for any reason.

The bylaw was proposed by Councillor Evan Williams and seconded by Mayor
Marlene Grinnell, who said members of the Langley RCMP initially suggested
the plan.

"They felt the number of hours police were spending investigating rental
properties where landlords were not living on the premises were too much."

The proposed bylaw, she said, would force landlords, especially absentee
landlords, to be accountable for their properties. She said the escalation
of growing operations in Langley coincides with the increasing number of
absentee landlords.

The bylaw has been deferred until April, when RCMP officers are to make a
presentation to council on it.

Both Grinnell and Williams say the law is not meant to target all renters,
only those involved with illegal activity. "I'm 100 per-cent in favour of
this bylaw. It is directly aimed at curtailing drug activity in the older
houses in the city," said Williams, adding that in his view, the law does
not interfere with tenants' rights.

However, other council members are strongly opposed to the idea.

"It would clearly be an infringement on a renter's rights. They would
forever be looking over their shoulders. And some landlords may see this as
licence to snoop," said Councillor Ted Schaffer. Police have enough
resources to deal with the growing-operation problem and should be able to
take care of it without going to the extremes of this bylaw, he added.