ELECTRICAL SAFETY CHECKS TO REQUIRE PRIOR CONSENT

A recent court ruling that threatened to derail a successful
anti-marijuana grow-op program in Richmond won't hurt the city's
ability to uncover the illegal production of the plant.

The ruling declared that warrantless entries of a home for inspecting
electrical systems were a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In the May 20 decision, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled in a Surrey
case that entering and searching homes without a warrant was a charter
breach.

But after consulting with its own legal department the city feels its
program is compliant with the court decision.

The city is proceeding with inspections in cases where consent has
been given by the owner or occupier of the home.

"When no consent is given, an entry warrant is obtained-which is in
line with the court's ruling," City of Richmond spokesperson Cynthia
Lockrey said in a press release.

An earlier court ruling had forced the city to make some bylaw
changes, Lockrey said, which meet the latest ruling's
requirements.

"The electrical safety program is one of many initiatives the City of
Richmond has to protect our citizens," Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie
said. "Every day, city staff work with the community in prevention and
loss reduction programs."