Al4- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 31, 2001 From front And when describing how well the zones had met his expectations he said: “On a scale of one to ‘Drug free’ zones fa to deliver I “a a, yo ‘My 10 you'd be lucky to call it |» ° a three.” ; Though Clarence Mi- chiel elementary school had expresed interest in having a zone set up around that school’ this’ “|< year, the project was put on hold by Hull until the existing zones start show- ing more promising results, The zones first got into trouble with the law before they were even in place when local provincial court Judge Ed de Walle said he wouldn’t be bound by the concept of doubling or tripling penalties within them. Citing the indepen- dence of the judiciary, de Walle said that if he signed a statement sup- porting zones, it would send a message to the ac- cused that they would automatically get the in- creased penalty regardless of the circumstances. He said that although the drug free zones could be persuasive in court when it comes to senten- cing, each case must be evaluated on an individual basis. RCMP do not have the zones earmarked with a specific tracking code to determine how many ar- Tests were made within the two-block radius zones, making it difficult to mea- sure their impact. But an RCMP statisti- cian looked at the statis- tics to determine how many narcotics-related ar- tests were made in the drug free zone areas in the past year. - Only four “no-case sei- zures; Were made,.mean- ing that drugs were taken. away but no charges laid. “The drug free zone isn’t in the law,” said Andy Roth, a lawyer who acts as the federal govern- ment’s drug prosecutor in the area. “The guidelines [I’m re- quired to follow are set out in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act,” he said, The act states traffick- ing near school grounds or any other place where minors congregate .is an agepravating factor and the court can consider this in the sentencing of the sus- pects, should ‘they be found guilty, Because no charges have been laid within the drug free zones, Roth has not had the opportunity to raise the issue in front of a judge, a Judge de Walle con- firms that he has not had. any prosecutors bring up the zones in his courtroom. FEBRUARY ig ts ONE CRI "and once: more ‘this past ; ’ fall, ; For The Month Of February, Enjoy! ‘ain ad TiC OF dr promised The ug frae zones left this comment on one of the signs setting up the boundary of the zone surround Caledonia Secondary Schoo. “I can’t think of one case where the crown has stood up in court and indi- cated that this was a case that occurred in a drug free zone and asked for a big- ger penalty,” he said. Original proponents of the zones also suggested that random locker checks would be made and that a ‘police dog would be used. The dog was used in one sweep of Caledonia within a month of the zone being established around the school. Two students were suspended as result of the raid. ; The dog was brought back to Caledonia when bomb threats were made Only four "no-case selzures” were made, meaning that drugs were taken away but no charges ald. However, the frequent checks promised by zone supporters haven’t hap- pened. As far as the schools are, concerned, not much has. changed since the zones were declared, “We've always fol- lowed: a practice that we , Suspend for possession and if they -are providing [drugs] it is an indefinite suspension,” said Skeena principal Rob Greenwood. ’ It's the same at Caledo- nia where the school has always had a zero toler- ance policy on drugs, said principal Geoff Straker, “The intent was to have an area free of drugs, SPECIALS fie be toast, Scrumptious Wraps Mediterranean Wrap tomatoes, ham and chedda dijonaise. fata cheese, Dinneranes 4 p.m.) nocd] brownie, with “Oh : French Combo - Two french * two sausage, served with chaice of coffee or tea 5.99) « Onio tomatoes, feta cheese, and tsit: Western Wrap - Egg, peppers, r cheese, Rubon Wrap « Swiss cheese, corned beef, sauerkraut, and All wraps served with choice of eoup or fries. Shrimp House Rolls - Baby lettuce and tsitzilci, rolled In a 6un dried tomato tortilla shell and sliced into bite size pieces 2 for 1 Oriental Chicken Stir Fry - Chicken breast sautéed with an assortment of fresh vegeta- les, in cur own oriental style sauce, served over re your choice of fattucini : t es or rice and F> grilled garlic pita. Chocolate. Suicide - A warm, henry ice cream, smothered in whipped cream and topped with rich gooey chocolate sauce. (AIL prices divnptinelude pis.) coRAPININ 4702 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace 635-6302 two eggs, two bacon, ha, peppera ziki, - ‘ shrimp, moist chocolate - Where good food brings the family together! where kids would be free to work without the pres- sure of people pushing things on them,” said Stra- ker. Although Straker says no students have been sus- pended this year for pos- session of drugs or drug paraphanelia, several stu- dents say drug use is just as frequent as it ever was. “If people are going to do it, they are going to do it,” said Caledonia student Pam Kurth. “You can put up signs anywhere but people are going to do it anyway.” “Some people think you're just not supposed to do it here so they just go to other, places,” she said... Councillor Hull now says the zones need to be reinvigorated. “The revitalization that’s needed is a gather- ing of all the parties,” said Hull. “Get them reinvi- - gorated, talk to the school _people, the RCMP so that the presence is really noted,” he said. . - Programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Educa- tion (DARE) would also be a step in the right dir- ection said Hull. The pro- gram is not being offered in Terrace schools. Huil also said a recrea- tion complex would help. “Things like that give ‘kids an alternative to drugs,” he said. Hull expressed frustra- tion with the legal system and said the stakes need to be higher in drug related cases, _ “There is no war on drugs ‘in Canada,” he said. “There is not even a de- cent fistfight on drugs.” Book your Winter Sun Vacation with _GANGUNE “COZUMEL. : CANADA 3000 Oe roa YY & ~MAZATLAN MANZANILLO. . Akumal Beach Resort Hold Room All “8899 || 51679 El Tropicana Hotel Colonial Hoial Room Jowory 29 i woe 199 Oceona Palace Resort Hotel Room All Mountoinwiow Fowruay 2 1 we GAO Viste Club Playa De Oro 1 eee’ 1 099 # HONOLUW LAS VEGAS.” _ LOSANGELES ° Excallbur More Haowallan Monarch Holal Room City Mountsinview Februay 2 wwe 169 Tower Room February 1-4 4 wer 29 Maul Const Hole! Hotel Room Febuary 24 - 27 Free Cor Rental® va’ 1399 Anghelm Ramada Heel Room Fabruary 2 - 28 enone 49 Fer pe bookings ont, Pree crv aa pt porkch boson dl. occ. Spaces mid & sujet avait a re c(bocking, ows, cutency eka sucha fs sna, “Born omdtionsesicors May OOH. ALk kt dail Call today for details: Suite 2 - 4736 Lakelse Ave., Terrace . 635-2277 OPEN SATURDAY R# 3504-4 R OPPORTUNITIES. FC Fadl aaiien Fite ab at ot C H I LD..( iss FA Our new child care program cuts the cost of child care for BC families. As of January 1, families with children in kindergarten to age 12 in before and after school licensed group care save up to $1,100 a year per child. . In January, 2002, the next step cuts costs _ - for.infants and toddlers in licensed group MILIES WHERE IT MATTERS MOST. BC’s new child care plan saves parents up to $1,100 per child this year. --For more information on the BC government's child care program, ~ please call 1-888-338-6622 or 356-6501 in Victoria. eS ee - bee care. Children in licensed family before and . after school care will also be eligible for the '. new lower rates. That means more savings for thousands of BC families. | - Working parents need affordable daycare. Child Care BC is part of our plan to provide better opportunities for today's families. BRITISH OLUMBIA NEID ENTERPRISES LTD A D | . % fi $ 6’snow... No problenit, Get your sled now fo ~Nomoney down nt Sano a fe. 2 So ee |e 7 yo. ne : ve . mn selected models and °200 off your bes No Payments until Sept..2 HURRY! This offer ends soon! eine exten eith Ave. Terrace, B.C. ©: Phohe 635-3478 = 'Fax'635-5050 _