GoldChico
New Member
Rossland is looking into adopting a bylaw to discourage illegal marijuana-growing operations and is encouraging citizens to report all criminal activity to the police after receiving numerous complaints about "party" houses.
The grow-op bylaw will be likely patterned after similar measures being developed in Fruitvale and Warfield, which focus on deterring operations through house inspections, councillor Gordon Smith told council Monday.
Many problem houses in Rossland are owned by absentees landlords. One simple approach would be to get owners of these houses to sign over their inspection rights to the city, he added.
Contrary to popular opinion, the city already has a bylaw regulating excessive noise at all times, with certain exceptions, Smith said. But city has no easy way of enforcing the penalties and the RCMP has suggested council look at rewriting it.
The police have also cautioned against using it in instances of serious criminal activity Smith added, because of problems with double jeopardy.
"The police prefer to deal with criminal charges, and bylaw charges can preclude criminal charges."
The bylaw officer has been instructed to step up patrols, and efforts to organize a Citizens on Patrol group are also underway.
"We have 12 volunteers so far and we are looking for ( a total ) of 16, with the idea being that they would patrol one weekend a month," said councillor Lora Fry.
All citizens have to be more alert to what is going on in their community and report problems to the police because "things are changing in Rossland as we grow and times change," she added.
But several citizens expressed concerns about the RCMP presence in Rossland since the RCMP detachment was consolidated with Trail's.
"I don't understand how a noise bylaw or drug-free zone ( around Rossland Secondary ) or anything else will do any good with the lack of police pressure," said Fifth Avenue resident Dylan Strelioff, who said there is a house in his neighbourhood with obvious drug dealing going.
But Leroi Avenue resident Tracy Mercer said residents must start to combat problems by reporting them.
"A lot of these incidents are not being reported. There is a lot of ugly stuff going on and it is only going to get worse."
Smith agreed, pointing out that the RCMP assign resources in part based on complaint volumes.
He acknowledged there have been problems with after-hour dispatchers from Kelowna who often answer the detachment's non-emergency phone after hours, but suggested that callers persist in until their complaint is logged, or dial 911.
Several citizens warned that there is a growing sense of frustration and some vigilantism is likely if the situation does not improve.
Source: Trail Daily Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Trail Daily Times
Contact: editor@trailtimes.ca
Website: Canada.Com
The grow-op bylaw will be likely patterned after similar measures being developed in Fruitvale and Warfield, which focus on deterring operations through house inspections, councillor Gordon Smith told council Monday.
Many problem houses in Rossland are owned by absentees landlords. One simple approach would be to get owners of these houses to sign over their inspection rights to the city, he added.
Contrary to popular opinion, the city already has a bylaw regulating excessive noise at all times, with certain exceptions, Smith said. But city has no easy way of enforcing the penalties and the RCMP has suggested council look at rewriting it.
The police have also cautioned against using it in instances of serious criminal activity Smith added, because of problems with double jeopardy.
"The police prefer to deal with criminal charges, and bylaw charges can preclude criminal charges."
The bylaw officer has been instructed to step up patrols, and efforts to organize a Citizens on Patrol group are also underway.
"We have 12 volunteers so far and we are looking for ( a total ) of 16, with the idea being that they would patrol one weekend a month," said councillor Lora Fry.
All citizens have to be more alert to what is going on in their community and report problems to the police because "things are changing in Rossland as we grow and times change," she added.
But several citizens expressed concerns about the RCMP presence in Rossland since the RCMP detachment was consolidated with Trail's.
"I don't understand how a noise bylaw or drug-free zone ( around Rossland Secondary ) or anything else will do any good with the lack of police pressure," said Fifth Avenue resident Dylan Strelioff, who said there is a house in his neighbourhood with obvious drug dealing going.
But Leroi Avenue resident Tracy Mercer said residents must start to combat problems by reporting them.
"A lot of these incidents are not being reported. There is a lot of ugly stuff going on and it is only going to get worse."
Smith agreed, pointing out that the RCMP assign resources in part based on complaint volumes.
He acknowledged there have been problems with after-hour dispatchers from Kelowna who often answer the detachment's non-emergency phone after hours, but suggested that callers persist in until their complaint is logged, or dial 911.
Several citizens warned that there is a growing sense of frustration and some vigilantism is likely if the situation does not improve.
Source: Trail Daily Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Trail Daily Times
Contact: editor@trailtimes.ca
Website: Canada.Com
