POT GROW PENALTIES TOO LAX: WATTS

Surrey officials are aware of a "huge" grow operation problem in the city
and insist the "lax" penalties issued by the local courts are attracting
criminals from elsewhere.

The Leader first reported Wednesday that up to 4,500 homes in Surrey
contain marijuana grow operations, a figure that represents about six per
cent of the city's single detached dwellings.

Coun. Dianne Watts, chair of the city's public safety committee, was aware
of the number of grow ops through discussions with the Surrey RCMP drug squad.

She maintains the judiciary needs to "step up" and give harsh penalties to
people who set up grow operations in this city.

"We have noticed an influx of people coming from back east to British
Columbia to start up grow operations because of the lax penalties," Watts said.

Watts also realizes that a significant number of grow ops are showing in
new upscale housing developments.

That trend is new, and the city, as well as police are ill-equipped to
respond to the problem.

One city official has suggested that on at least one occasion, a pot grower
bought all seven homes in a cul-de-sac, so that he wouldn't have to worry
about neighbours complaining to bylaw officials or the RCMP.

Police became so concerned with the trend of using new homes for grow ops
that three months ago they solicited the advice of Peter Simpson, president
of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association.

Simpson advised them of the signs they might look for in a new home that
will be used for a grow op.

"What builders should be looking for is high-output electrical sources in
the basement, they should look for oversized exhaust fans," Simpson said,
adding that people who plan to create a grow operation are unlikely to ask
for a follow-up call from the builder.

"Everybody calls after they move in, because they have something that needs
to be attended to... so, when (owners of grow ops) move in they don't ever
call the home builder again."

It's up to the builders individually to decide if the police should be
notified.

City staff say that on several occasions, the basements aren't finished,
and the suspect work is done after the building inspectors have given final
approvals.

After final inspection is done, bylaw officials no longer have the same
rights to enter the home.

Watts said the issue has, and will likely continue to be, a part of the
agenda at meetings of the public safety committee and the drug-crime task
force.