Wisconsin Public Safety

GAP IN METH LAW OFFICIALLY CLOSED

Western Wisconsin law enforcement officials again have the courtroom
clout they say is needed to halt a steady increase in the production
and use of methamphetamine.

Surrounded by sheriffs and district attorneys from western Wisconsin,
Gov. Jim Doyle on Wednesday signed a bill that again makes the
production or use of meth a felony. The legislation was co-authored by
state Rep. Kitty Rhoades of Hudson and state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf of
River Falls, both Republicans.

The governor had signed the bill earlier in Madison, but the
ceremonial signing at the St. Croix County Government Center was
planned mostly to thank local officials who lobbied for the change.

"This is a critical tool to fight this battle," Harsdorf said. "It's
not as big of an issue in most parts of the state, but here it is critical."

Enactment of the law marks a reversal of a 2001 law that made first-time
possession of meth a misdemeanor. Possession remained a felony in
Minnesota, creating two-fold problem in western Wisconsin:

The state's weaker laws encouraged meth producers to set up shop in
Wisconsin. And prosecuting suspects was harder because people charged
with misdemeanors couldn't be extradited.

"Now we're on a level playing field, and they have the tools in place
to contain this," Rhoades said.

Authorities said meth has been a growing problem in western Wisconsin
for the past five years. St. Croix County had the state's highest
number of meth cases in 2002 with 68, according to the Wisconsin
Department of Justice. Neighboring counties also reported numerous
cases -- Polk with 24 and Pierce with 23.

In comparison, Milwaukee, the state's largest county, reported four
meth cases in 2002.

Although meth production and use has climbed throughout the state, the
situation has reached epidemic levels in Wisconsin counties bordering
the Twin Cities area.

Twenty-six counties reported 112 cases in 1998; last year, 40 counties
reported 314 cases.