CRACK DOWN ON DRUG PUSHERS

New laws against those who drink and drive are welcome, especially in a
province where no less than its own premier, Gordon Campbell, was busted
for driving drunk during a Hawaiian vacation in January 2003.

Back then, Campbell received credit and some respect for facing the music -
and media - upon his return to sobriety and B.C., after his police mugshot
became the hottest pin-up since Pamela Anderson. The premier swore off the
sauce, and apparently has kept that pledge since. He deserves praise for that.

When new laws regarding stricter enforcement, higher penalties and
mandatory rehabilitation for drinking drivers were introduced into the
legislature this week, the ruling Liberals decided Campbell had had enough
exposure on the subject and they made certain he was nowhere to be seen.
Whilst that perhaps is understandable, politically, it sucks ethically and
morally, in this scribe's opinion, but that is not the point.

What British Columbians might be wise to be asking is not: "Where was
Gord?" but rather: "Why aren't the harsher treatment and penalties for
repeat offenders being applied to the low-lifes who deal in selling illegal
drugs, especially to our children?"

In a province where the putrefying court system sees three-time and/or
10-time drug pushers slapped gently on the wrist by judges who then send
them back onto the streets to peddle their poison, a "crackdown" on them
would better serve our society than the slightly-upgraded drinking-driving
laws do. Bringing in some mandatory rehabilitation for the addicts would be
welcomed, too, no doubt.

Statistics unveiled by Solicitor-General Rich Coleman to accompany the new
laws targeting drunk drivers were shocking.

With a reported 40,000 roadside suspensions and 7,000 impaired-driving
charges each year, British Columbians have reason to be concerned,
especially with 25 per cent of traffic fatalities being linked to drinking
and driving.

Here's a sobering thought: Those stats work out to more than 109
suspensions per day, and 19 impaired drivers charged each day, when
averaged out over the year.

Yet, in the ever-growing world of illegal drug dealing, the crime
associated with addictive hard drugs such as crack, cocaine, crystal meth
and heroin makes those numbers look puny. From the thousands of home and
vehicle break-ins each month to the hundreds of holdups and shootings just
in Vancouver alone, let alone the rest of the province, there appears to be
no law enforcement any more, just containment. And don't even get me
started on the lack of punishment from the courts and those aforementioned
judges when it comes to the softer, more socially acceptable illegal drug,
marijuana.

What else should we expect in a city in which the local council not only
condones, but also actually supplies shooting galleries, a.k.a.
"safe-injection sites," for junkies to use their heroin and cocaine?

And, for those of you outside of Vancouver, who think it is just their
problem, think again. This "experiment" will be coming to your city or town
next, whether you, the citizens, want it or not.

So, cheer on the slightly stiffer penalties for the drunk driver, by all
means. But also ask your local politicians just what they are going to do
about the dealers-pushers-addicts, and when are they going to do it?

* Veteran B.C. journalist-broadcaster John Pifer can be reached at [email
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