CRIME: DRUG HOUSE OWNERS SHOULD FOOT COSTS, SAYS COUNCILLOR

Kim Richter Wants Drug Growers And Cookers To Pay Their Police And Fire
Department Bills.

When grow-ops burn and meth labs get busted, the criminals should pick up
the emergency services tab, a Langley Township councillor says.

Kim Richter wants to charge back all costs related to fire and police calls
for drug production operations to the owners of the properties housing the
illegal activities.

The charges, she said, should be placed as liens against the buildings on
those properties if the full costs of fire and police calls are not paid.

The Township shouldn't have to pay for police and fire fighters to respond
to illegal drug operations, Richter said.

"There are other communities that are taking innovative approaches dealing
with this [problem]," Richter said.

In August, a generator at a marijuana grow operation sparked a fire that
destroyed an Aldergrove building and required three crews of firefighters
to douse it.

The Township also has to cover the bill to fill in part of the drug tunnel
dug between Aldergrove and Lynden, Richter pointed out.

Richter recognized that trying to get criminals to pay the cost of
emergency services could cost the Township more money in the long run in
court fees. But, she said, her hope is that the rules would serve as a
deterrent.

"We'd like not to be grow-op friendly," she said.

It's not fair, Richter added, that those who operated grow-ops or meth labs
make millions of dollars, don't pay taxes, yet get the full benefit of
Township services.

Township administrator Mark Bakken said such rules would depend on where
and how the provincial proceeds of crime legislation plays into the
situation municipally.

As it currently stands, those proceeds are not shared with local
governments, he explained.

Municipalities can create user fees, but the question is whether the
Township can recover fees incurred to deal with an illegal act.

The Township can charge owners for clean-up done to their property, but
that falls under the abandoned property bylaw.

Richter's suggestion was on Council's Monday night meeting agenda. The
meeting was held after the Langley Advance's press time.