NEW POT BYLAW FOR TOWN

Comox property owners who rent to people in the illegal drug trade could
have their houses shut down and face hefty fees to reopen them, according
to a new town bylaw.

The bylaw is aimed mainly at producers, but also prohibits the use of
property "for the ingestion, use, sharing, sale, trade or barter of a
controlled substance."

If the occupancy permit on a house is lifted because of drug activity, the
town will require the owner to pay costs of the RCMP dealing with occupants
and removal of drugs and production equipment stored in the house,
according to the bylaw.

If electricity or gas has been altered, they will pay all costs of
correcting the problem and necessary inspections.

They will be billed $400 for the first inspection and $300 each for
subsequent inspections.

If the fire department is called to the house, owners will be billed a
minimum $400 plus $400 for each additional hour.

If the owner fails to pay by the end of the calendar year, costs will be
added to the following year's property tax as tax in arrears.