BAILEY ADDS NEW METH LAB WEAPON

CHARLESTON - A companion bill offered Wednesday would put more teeth in the
war against meth labs by making wanton endangerment by fire a felony.

The measure came a day after the Senate Health and Human Resources
Committee approved a bill limiting access to cold and sinus medicine.

About a dozen common brand-name medications contain pseudoephedrine, a
critical element in producing methamphetamine.

Sen. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, said his bill is intended to primarily
cover meth labs since the threat of fire could endanger children inside a
home or even neighbors.

"If State Police raid a house which is a meth lab, they can now have
another felony charge of wanton endangerment if there are children living
in that house," Bailey said.

In some locales, he explained, fires have erupted in homes used as illegal
meth labs, and some children have perished.

Under the bill, wanton endangerment would be punishable by a prison term of
two to 10 years and/or a maximum fine of $10,000.

"We're trying to get ahead of the curve by making it a felony," Bailey said.

Bailey said he was asked to craft the bill by the state fire marshal's
office as another tool in the war against meth production.

"The materials they use in those labs are highly volatile," the senator said.

"All it takes is a little spark or whatever, maybe from the ether involved
and the other things to separate that one drug from all the others. All
those chemicals they use are very flammable."

Bailey said he feels the Legislature is moving in time with its bill to
limit sales of cold medications containing pseudoephedrine by a pharmacist
or his technician.

The measure comes at a time when police are warning that meth labs are
starting to sprout in a number of rural places.

"Maybe we're passing the law just in time to keep southern West Virginia
from being a part of this phenomenon," Bailey added.