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Public complaints about area stores selling drug paraphernalia led to several arrests last week.
But the four-day investigation and police sweep has at least two York Region shop owners fuming.
Adam Chaplin and his girlfriend run Lotus in Newmarket and believe police are singling them out.
"I really can't understand it. I think ( police ) are trying to put us out of business," Mr. Chaplin said.
Because of the number of complaints, York Regional Police targeted shops selling pipes, bongs and other items that could be used for illegal purposes, Insp. Mark Tatz said.
"We received a number of complaints from people asking why some stores are allowed to sell ( drug paraphernalia ) when there's a crackdown on grow houses," Insp. Tatz said.
Police investigated 36 stores in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township and East Gwillimbury.
Nine stores received warnings, while owners of two Main Street, Newmarket stores were charged.
Lotus was one of them.
Police said more than $10,000 worth of smoking instruments were seized and the owners were charged with selling illicit drug paraphernalia.
Mr. Chaplin said it was the first time in the four years they've been open that the store courted police attention.
They're questioning why now.
Mr. Chaplin acknowledged the store sells smoking pipes, commonly used for illicit drug use, along with hemp clothing, jewelry and cosmetics.
However, all of the stores in violation were issued warnings and told officers would return within two weeks to ensure drug paraphernalia was removed from their stores.
Seven of the nine stores complied, Insp. Tatz said.
Besides Lotus, officers also charged the owners of Times Square Convenience on Main Street south.
According to Town of Newmarket bylaws, however, both Main Street shops are legitimate operations, confirmed town spokesperson Wanda Bennett.
The town has bylaws and zoning restrictions in place only for body rub parlours and stores selling second-hand goods.
Insp. Tatz said front-line officers were receiving complaints about gadgets being sold in the community that could be used to smoke an illegal substance.
Main Street is part of Newmarket Councillor Joe Sponga's ward. He said the sale of drug paraphernalia doesn't fit into the town's plan to revitalize its downtown.
"Other shop owners were concerned kids were going into these stores and buying drug paraphernalia," Mr. Sponga said.
"I love to see people shopping on Main Street. It's what they're shopping for that concerns me," he added.
For police, it's a no-win situation, Insp. Tatz said.
"If police don't do anything, people will question why we aren't doing anything about ( drug paraphernalia ). When we do, people question why we're doing it," he said.
"It's low down on the scale of crime," he admitted.
"Just because certain crimes aren't seen as a threat to public safety, does that mean we should stop enforcing it?"
"The Criminal Code is full of crimes that aren't considered a threat to public safety," he added.
"It's up to the courts to decide. I think it's realistic to get a conviction," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaplin and Ms Wolfe have not appeared in court and say they will consider all of their options.
In the meantime, they have started an online petition in response to the police crackdown.
Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2005
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact: jfuthey@yrng.com
Website: https://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/liberal/
But the four-day investigation and police sweep has at least two York Region shop owners fuming.
Adam Chaplin and his girlfriend run Lotus in Newmarket and believe police are singling them out.
"I really can't understand it. I think ( police ) are trying to put us out of business," Mr. Chaplin said.
Because of the number of complaints, York Regional Police targeted shops selling pipes, bongs and other items that could be used for illegal purposes, Insp. Mark Tatz said.
"We received a number of complaints from people asking why some stores are allowed to sell ( drug paraphernalia ) when there's a crackdown on grow houses," Insp. Tatz said.
Police investigated 36 stores in Newmarket, Aurora, King Township and East Gwillimbury.
Nine stores received warnings, while owners of two Main Street, Newmarket stores were charged.
Lotus was one of them.
Police said more than $10,000 worth of smoking instruments were seized and the owners were charged with selling illicit drug paraphernalia.
Mr. Chaplin said it was the first time in the four years they've been open that the store courted police attention.
They're questioning why now.
Mr. Chaplin acknowledged the store sells smoking pipes, commonly used for illicit drug use, along with hemp clothing, jewelry and cosmetics.
However, all of the stores in violation were issued warnings and told officers would return within two weeks to ensure drug paraphernalia was removed from their stores.
Seven of the nine stores complied, Insp. Tatz said.
Besides Lotus, officers also charged the owners of Times Square Convenience on Main Street south.
According to Town of Newmarket bylaws, however, both Main Street shops are legitimate operations, confirmed town spokesperson Wanda Bennett.
The town has bylaws and zoning restrictions in place only for body rub parlours and stores selling second-hand goods.
Insp. Tatz said front-line officers were receiving complaints about gadgets being sold in the community that could be used to smoke an illegal substance.
Main Street is part of Newmarket Councillor Joe Sponga's ward. He said the sale of drug paraphernalia doesn't fit into the town's plan to revitalize its downtown.
"Other shop owners were concerned kids were going into these stores and buying drug paraphernalia," Mr. Sponga said.
"I love to see people shopping on Main Street. It's what they're shopping for that concerns me," he added.
For police, it's a no-win situation, Insp. Tatz said.
"If police don't do anything, people will question why we aren't doing anything about ( drug paraphernalia ). When we do, people question why we're doing it," he said.
"It's low down on the scale of crime," he admitted.
"Just because certain crimes aren't seen as a threat to public safety, does that mean we should stop enforcing it?"
"The Criminal Code is full of crimes that aren't considered a threat to public safety," he added.
"It's up to the courts to decide. I think it's realistic to get a conviction," he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chaplin and Ms Wolfe have not appeared in court and say they will consider all of their options.
In the meantime, they have started an online petition in response to the police crackdown.
Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2005
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact: jfuthey@yrng.com
Website: https://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/liberal/
