GROW-OP POWER ATTACK EXTENDED

A six-month public safety initiative that has been a thorn in the
side of marijuana growers has received an extension.

A specialized community safety team that has been putting marijuana
growers out of business will continue working for another two years.

The Public Safety Inspection Team (PSIT) was given a two-year
extension by Langley Township Council on Oct. 15.

PSIT is made up of a fire inspector, two RCMP officers, an electrical
advisor, a bylaw inspector, and clerical support staff. It
investigates premises where excessive use of electricity has been
noticed, and shuts down dangerous power sources.

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

"Homes with grow-ops in them are twenty times as likely to catch fire
as normal homes," said Township 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," he said. "The Public
Safety Inspection Team is making the community safer, and has had the
added benefit of making it more difficult for [marijuana growers] to
do business. It's working well."

PSIT started in June 2007 as a six-month pilot project. Its purpose,
goals, and methods were based on similar programs in Surrey and
Abbotsford, but have been altered to meet the Township's requirements.

PSIT receives data from B.C. Hydro on homes that use 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.

With the information received, PSIT does background checks on
reported premises and the people in them, and does drive-by
inspections. If the team feels an on-site check is necessary, 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, or
evidence that one was recently active.

PSIT uses a non-criminal approach to shutting the operations down,
acting under the Community Charter, the Fire Services Act, safety
standards, and Township bylaws.

Those caught with grow-ops are not prosecuted, but homes using
dangerous amounts of electricity have their power disconnected,
damaging marijuana crops and forcing growers to move on, seriously
hitting them 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."

Inspections each carry a $3,700 fee, 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 thousands of dollars in costs, Wade said.

In some cases, homes are declared unfit for occupation.

Since it started, PSIT has done more than 110 inspections which have
led to discoveries of electrical problems. In most cases, grow-ops
were involved.

Over the same time, from June to September this year, Langley RCMP
used the Criminal Code to take down 16 grow-ops, Wade compared.

"The police are very, very supportive of this [PSIT]," he added.
"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."

Grow-Op Reports:

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 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 usual
$3,700 investigation fee.