'GROW-OP TEAM' HITS JACKPOT, GETS TWO MORE YEARS

A specialized team that makes the community safer and provides the
added benefit of putting marijuana growers out of business will
continue working for another two years.

The Public Safety Inspection Team, which has been operating as a pilot
project, was given a two-year extension by Township of Langley Council
on Oct. 15.

The Team, which is made up of a fire inspector, two RCMP officers, an
electrical advisor, a bylaw inspector, and clerical support staff,
investigates premises where excessive use of electricity has been
noticed, and shuts down power sources that pose a danger to the
structure and the community.

In most cases, those premises have been found to house marijuana grow
operations.

Shutting down the operations not only reduces the risk of fire and
other safety hazards for the entire neighbourhood, it makes it
extremely difficult for pot growers to function.

"Homes with grow-ops in them are twenty times as likely to catch fire
as normal homes," said Township of Langley Fire Chief Doug Wade, "and
the chemicals used to grow marijuana are dangerous to people and the
environment."

"We don't want marijuana producers in Langley," said Wade. "The Public
Safety Inspection Team is making the community safer and has had the
added benefit of making it more difficult for them to do business.
It's working well."

The Public Safety Inspection Team started in June of 2007 as a
six-month pilot project. The Team's purpose, goals, and methods were
based on similar programs in Surrey and Abbotsford, but have been
improved to meet the Township's requirements.

The team receives data from B.C. Hydro about homes that are using more
than three times the normal amount of power. They also receive tips
from the community, and have set up a hotline at 604-532-7527. Acting
on the information received, the Team does background checks on the
reported premises and the people within them, conducts drive-bys, and
determines if an on-site check is necessary. If so, a notice is posted
on the property, stating that a home inspection will be conducted in
24 hours.

The next day, the team goes in to see what is causing the excessive
use of power - and in many cases finds a marijuana grow-op is or has
been recently active.

The Public Safety Inspection Team uses a non-criminal approach to
shutting the operations down. It doesn't issue warrants, but acts
under the authority of the Community Charter, the Fire Services Act,
safety standards, and Township of Langley bylaws.

While those caught with grow-ops will not be prosecuted, homes where
the consumption of electricity is found to be dangerous will have
their power disconnected which can mean growers are forced to move on,
and the growth cycle of their marijuana plants is disrupted.

As well, those responsible are seriously hit in the
pocketbook.

"There is a substantial fee, as we operate on a cost recovery basis,"
said Wade.

"We are ensuring that our citizens and taxpayers do not bear the brunt
of this illegal activity."

Fees of $3,700 are issued to cover the inspections, and when the price
of the repairs, building permits, and electrical permits that are
required to put the building back to livable standards are factored
in, violators face several thousand dollars worth of costs, Wade said.
In some cases, homes are declared unfit for occupation.

Since its initiation, the team has done more than 110 inspections
which have lead to the discovery of electrical problems that could
potentially pose a threat, most of which yielded grow-ops. In the same
time frame, from June to September of this year, the Langley RCMP -
who work within the criminal code framework - took down 16 grow-ops,
Wade said.

"The police are very, very supportive of this," he added, because of
the effectiveness of the Public Safety Inspection Team's approach.

"After these inspections, 95 per cent of those caught with a grow-op
move out all their equipment and plants, removing the hazard from the
neighbourhood."

[sidebar]

GLANCE BOX:

Residents can report what appears to be a marijuana grow-op in their
neighbourhoods through the tip line at 604-532-7527.

Landlords are responsible and will be held accountable for their
properties: "My best advice to landlords is to check on your tenants
on a regular basis," said Township of Langley Fire Chief Doug Wade.
"Tour the premises; don't just stand at the front door."

Landlords who report suspicious tenants will NOT be charged the $3,700
investigation fee.