SURF CITY CRACK PIPE CRACKDOWN

SURF CITY - Just the possibility of a crackdown on the sale of drug
paraphernalia was enough for most Surf City merchants to pack up their
pipes and stow their bongs.

One popular gift shop in downtown Surf City had more than 25
glass-blown decorative pipes for sale on Sept. 20, but by Friday all
those pipes had been removed from the shelf.

And that seems to be the trend.

Gift shops in Surf City , for the most part, have already boxed up,
trashed or returned the pipes that would be considered illegal to sell
under the proposed town ordinance.

"We don't need that stuff here," Surf City Police Chief Mike Halstead
said. "We don't want little kids seeing bongs and crack pipes in our
gift shops."

Halstead cited several complaints the department received from parents
about finding the pipes and other paraphernalia on display in local
stores.

With a public hearing set for Tuesday, the Surf City Town Council will
listen to citizen's opinions on the subject.

Town Councilman Buddy Fowler said the new ordinance is an attempt by
the town to make it hard on people to buy drug paraphernalia and
protect Surf City 's image.

"We thought this was worth standing up over," Fowler said. "This is
not the image we want people to remember when they think about our
town."

Fowler continued by saying that he did not feel that there would be
any trouble with merchants over the possible ban.

"We have great business owners here," he said. "Most of them are
selling the stuff because everyone else is."

And a complete ban would end that situation.

Sammy Alofer, the store manager of Waves, said he will follow the
law.

"Of course," he said, "if they say 'don't sell,' I don't sell. But for
now, pipes are for sale."

Other shop owners agreed, saying that while they have temporarily
removed the pipes and other paraphernalia, they would replace the
items on their shelves if the law is not passed.

Some contend that the pipes are collector items, like decorative shot
glasses. And one owner asked why a drug user would pay $25 to $50 for
a glass pipe when an aluminum beer or coke can could be used to smoke
crack.

Mayor Zander Guy said he looks forward to listening to both sides of
the issue at the public hearing.

"I work for the people and the people will get a chance to be heard
next week," he said, "but I am against illegal drug use and I am
opposed to anything associated with illegal drug use."

The law - modeled after ordinances used by Myrtle Beach and several
other larger cities - states, "it shall be unlawful for any person to
advertise for sale, manufacture, posses with the intent to deliver or
sell drug paraphernalia."

The new ordinance is crucial, according to Halstead. Using state laws,
Surf City police officers can charge offenders with possession of drug
paraphernalia if they are also caught with illegal drugs in their
possession or if the paraphernalia has identifiable drug residue in
it.

But, as it stands right now, there is nothing the police can do to
stop the sell of the devices.

"This will make our job easier," Halstead said. "By making it harder
on kids to get pipes and bongs, we cut down on recreational use."