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BYLAW TO BAN DRUG-USE ITEMS IN PARKS, OTHER PUBLIC PLACES

By Hempology | September 26, 2005

Carrying a needle into a park or any public place, or crack pipe or marijuana bong, will soon be illegal under a new bylaw about to go before Maple Ridge politicians.

Council’s committee agreed Monday to send along to regular council an amendment to the parks bylaw calling for $100 fines for anyone one found carrying such equipment into Maple Ridge parks or public areas.

The same bylaw also allows a fine of $100 for people relieving themselves in public.

The goal is to maintain parks as safe places where the public feels comfortable, said a report from Mike Murray, manager of parks and recreation services.

When people ingest drugs or urinate or defecate in parks or public areas, it contributes to “a sense of lawlessness and lack of control.

“This in turn contributes significantly to our citizens’ sense that such areas are unsafe resulting in less use of the public areas -”

Coun. Candace Gordon noted that a diabetic could be fined for carrying a needle into a park.

But bylaws director Brock McDonald noted staff wouldn’t focus on such people saying the bylaw would be another tool staff could use to keep homeless people from setting up in parks.

“If we don’t have a bylaw to back it up, we’re kind of at their mercy,” he said.

He said he’d be willing to have the amendment reviewed by a lawyer if council had concerns about the legality of fining people for possessing drug paraphernalia.

Maple Ridge Mayor Kathy Morse said many municipal bylaws limit what people can and can’t do far beyond what criminal law does.

“I think this is part of trying to raise the bar,” she said.

Gordon said that Maple Ridge lacks affordable housing.

“I think what we’re doing is enforcement.”

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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom

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