ANTI-GROW-OP BYLAW COLLECTS $142,000

Maple Ridge's anti-grow-op bylaw has already plowed money back into
district's and RCMP coffers.

The bylaw, which puts all the costs for raiding a grow-op back on to
the property owner, has recouped $142,120 since January.

The costs are recovered by billing back to homeowners the costs of
inspection and re-occupancy fees, fire and police costs.

So far, $97,939 has been paid back to the RCMP for their costs in
raiding a house.

And $8,644 has been paid to the fire department.

The district has made $9,000 alone from issuing occupancy
fees.

Since January, 39 premises have been dismantled as grow
operations.

In addition to fees and permits, homeowners also must pay for all the
work required to make a home habitable after it's been used as a grow-op.

That includes inspection by an occupational therapist to make sure the
home is free from pesticides, fertilizers, mold and fungi usually
present in grow-ops.