WAR ON DRUGS: BYLAW CRACKDOWN ON DRUGS BEGINS

The Fight To Stop Sales Of Drug Paraphernalia Has Begun

Businesses are responding favourably to a proposed bylaw that will
limit or prevent sale of drug paraphernalia.

City council is expected to approve the bylaw Monday. In advance of
that, however, Langley RCMP Const. Laurine Croshaw and the city's
chief licencing inspector Tim Hickey are making pre-emptive visits to
some of the local stores known to carry such items.

Unlike some Lower Mainland communities, there are no stores in
Langley City that deal exclusively with drug paraphernalia. But there
are at least five corner stores or smoke shops that carry related
items, Hickey told the Langley Advance.

He and Croshaw recently visited three of those stores, and are
planning to visit the last two on Wednesday.

They'll be asking store owners to stop sales of all such items, or
failing that explain the reporting process that will be introduced.
Shop owners will be required to report to police the names and
particulars of anyone buying anything "used or designed for" illegal
drug consumption.

So far, the response has been good, Hickey said. "They all said they
were going to comply with it [the new bylaw] without question."

Main Spot News has already taken a series of pipes off the shelf, and
its owners said his store at 20569 Fraser Hwy. welcomes the bylaw.

"It's good," said owner Chang Lee. "I will not sell it anymore. I
don't care. It's no problem, just a little bit."

Likewise, Douglas Park Market, at 20517 Douglas Cres., owner Jessica
Oh said she's also discontinued carrying smoke pipes that are used
for drug consumption.

"We don't sell anything anymore," Oh said. "Nothing."

These visits are not an attempt to strong arm the businesses, but
rather educate businesses about the impending bylaw and ask for
cooperation, Hickey said.

That said, he added: "I expect compliance."

Croshaw and Hickey are expecting to visit the remaining two known
stores, Limited Editions Clothing & Collectibles and Stop 'n Shop on
Wednesday morning.

The bylaw, Hickey insisted, is aimed at limiting people's access to
items such as bongs, pipes, and papers. He said concerns raised about
items that serve double duty, such as two-litre pop bottles, spoons,
diabetic needles, and plastic baggies are not targeted by the bylaw.

Hickey noted he will be regularly monitoring these outlets, plus
responding to reports from the public.

"We're being proactive and we're attempting to save the youth of our city."