Please don't take it away.
Vigo officials adopt meth ordinance
By Howard Greninger/Tribune-Star
December 22, 2004
Vigo County commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-0 to adopt a countywide ordinance that controls the sale of products used to make illegal crystal methamphetamine.
Now, Terre Haute Police Chief George Ralston said he hopes the City Council will adopt the measure for use in the city, possibly acting on the ordinance in January. That way, Terre Haute police will be empowered to write citations.
Under the county law, county sheriff's deputies would have to write a citation in the city, said County Attorney Tim Fears. Vigo County Sheriff Jon Marvel said he plans to deputize the 12 members of the Vigo County Drug Task Force, many of which are city police officers, enabling them to issue citations.
Ralston said he thinks the measure is a proactive attempt to curb the making of illegal methamphetamine.
"Most of the inmates in the county jail are locked up on drugs [charges] and most are on meth," Ralston said. "This gives us a little teeth and puts them on notice that we will track them. I hope it also puts other counties on notice" and encourages them to adopt a similar ordinance.
"I think this will be a real ripple effect and shows you can do something about it," Ralston said.
Vigo County Sheriff Jon Marvel said the ordinance he introduced is the first of its kind in Indiana. The county ordinance will take effect 30 days after a public notice is advertised, possibly on Feb. 1.
"This will help us identify people who are buying these products" to make illegal meth, Marvel said. "There is nothing that will eliminate this problem until the state and federal government helps out."
Retailers who sell products containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, pseudoephedrine sulfate or phenylpropanolamine must obtain a county permit.
The retailer must obtain a picture identification, name and address of individuals buying products containing these substances and submit a report every 30 days to the county Prosecutor's Office.
If a business fails to get an annual permit, it can be assessed a $250 penalty. Violation of the ordinance carries a penalty up to $2,500, with each day considered a separate offense.
State Rep. Trent Van Haaften said he plans to introduce a bill to the Indiana General Assembly in January to restrict the sale of these products. Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon, served with Marvel on a state meth task force that made recommendations for state action.
"With counties such as Vigo stepping forward in this effort, it is my hope that Indiana will do the same as other states and take the necessary steps to slow down the meth epidemic," Van Haaften said Tuesday. "Well done to the Vigo County commissioners!"
************ There's more. Under Indiana law, you can be arrested if you possess any one item used to make Meth, if the police think you would.
Under this new county ordinence, if you buy any of these drugs, your name is sent to the prosecutors office and remains on a list indefinitely
Granted, my county is leading Indiana in Meth busts, but after following these stats for several years and doing some research, I've come to the conclusion that we don't have more meth, we have better cops.
We have about 110,000 in the county. Indianapolis has about 1,000,000.
We had about 110 meth busts last year. Indy had 3.
Something about that isn't right.
This law scares the hell out of me. All it takes is one crooked cop, or one person with a grudge, and you are stuck with a rap you cannot shake.
By the way, I now stick to chicken soup for a cold.
But I guess this means we're one up on Texas.
Of course we understand, Senator.
Law-abiding citizens have not rights. Their job is to shut up and do as they are told.
And pay taxes, at whatever rate you decide, and however much it should be increased every year.
No "inconvenience" is to great for the public to bear as long as it gets you reelected.
Somebody please tell his constituents that this a-hole wants to ban the most effective over-the-counter cold medicines available. I would have to move if they did that here!
An incredibly miniscule number of people misuse the drug so punish the entire state of Texas.
This ticks me off so bad I can't see straight right now!!!!!!
I say we ban anything that we have caught State Senators abusing.
Hell, no! It's one of the very few anti-congestion things I can take and still be conscious enough to fly!
Pretty soon practically everything will be illegal. I could make a fortune just by selling aspirin alone!
Estes, you are no rocket scientist.
LEAVE MY DECONGESTANTS ALONE, YOU FREAK!
OH good grief! I'm allergic to everything and take sudafed quite a bit when the antihistimines like benadryl and zyrtec don't cut it - without it I get an acute sinus infection that requires literally months of antibiotics. (I get the sinus infection anyways sometimes, but at least sudafed gives some relief) This guy must not know what it is like to suffer from terrible allergies. Especially here in Texas - allergy capital of the world.
Please don't take it away.
Oh my.
They took away PPA. . now they want to take away pseudoephidrine?
I think they all must NOT have seasonal allergies. Or asthma.
Most legislators couldn't change a light bulb without a PR man and an aide. They are incredibly stupid when it comes to any kind of technology. It is obvious that the meth makers will find another source for the chemicals they need. I've already heard of one very common, simple source that they've discovered (won't reveal it here).
Yeah, riiiigggghhhhht...!
Gosh! I'm "high" on Sudafed right now! Don't know what would happen if they banned sales...I might have to go into decongestant rehab! /sarcasm
The only people this law would hurt are the average Joe.....the meth makers will simply find another way to make their drugs....and the person with the sniffles will have to give personal info that goes into a database just to get a decongestant. Pretty soon, it will be illegal to buy aleve & motrin too.
The Meth problem has become so pervasive, our firemen are at serious risk when they respond to house fires. They never know whaen they may have another meth lab explode in thier faces, and the cookers will set up shop anywhere; motels, in campers in parking lots, rental houses in YOUR neighborhood.
A lot of people complain about the inconvienience of signing for Sudafed, but do any of them have a better idea on how to deny Meth pre-cursor chemicals from criminals??
This is a very complex problem dealing with a horrible drug. Treatment alone is not the answer.