HOMEOWNERS WILL BE CHARGED FOR COSTS ON FIRST GROW-OP BUST

One strike and you pay. Property owners won't get any lenience from the
City of Abbotsford if they are caught growing marijuana on their premises.
City council members are looking at amending the current Controlled
Substance Property Bylaw to make owners liable for extraordinary police
costs on the first offence.

The law would apply to landowners whether they live on their property or
rent it. The current bylaw, adopted in January 2002, gives property owners
one chance before being charged for policing costs.

The amended bylaw would still contain an appeal process through which a
landlord could try to prove due diligence to the police chief's office, and
if they are still not satisfied, they can appeal to the city council who
may waive the fee, said Grant Acheson, director of development services.

Firefighting costs resulting from a pot operation could also be added to
the bylaw, which would take it a little further than similar cost recovery
bylaws in Surrey and Burnaby, said Acheson.

Owners have to pay for any damages to structural or electrical systems.

In addition, Acheson said other initiatives may be pursued to help
neighbours and realtors identify possible grow-ops by educating through
city and police web sites, through closer contact with the Fraser Valley
Real Estate Board, the Block Watch program and Crime Stoppers.

Since the bylaw was created the Abbotsford police report they have
recovered $10,538.35. The amended bylaw should come before the city council
before the year's end for first reading.