Assemblyman 130th Assembly District
JOSEPH A. ERRIGO
| For
immediate release: January 24, 2005 |
Contact: Adam Peterson (585) 334-5210 |
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District Office: 3045 East Henrietta Rd., Henrietta, NY 14467 Albany Office: Rm 427 LOB, Albany, NY 12248 |
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COLUMN FOR THE WEEK OF 1/24/05 BY ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH ERRIGO
IT IS TIME TO FIGHT METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION
Assembly Republican plan would give law enforcement tools needed to fight 'meth' production
This week I joined my Republican Assembly colleagues and law enforcement personnel from across the state to unveil a new proposal aimed at combating the growing problem of production and distribution of methamphetamines (meth). Methamphetamine use and production have grown at astounding rates. In the Finger Lakes region alone, many covert laboratories have been uncovered.
I have spoken to many law enforcement officials who report a dramatic increase in clandestine meth laboratories because meth is relatively easy to make. Meth is manufactured using many common household items, such as cold medicine, lithium batteries, drain cleaner and starter fluid. Meth use can provide a 24-hour "high" and cause serious physical problems, or even death.
Highlights of the proposal include: Imposing penalties on people who possess the ingredients
to illegally manufacture meth Imposing penalties on individuals who assist in disposal
of hazardous materials resulting from clandestine meth labs Increasing penalties for criminals who operate clandestine
labs in the presence of a child, within 500 feet of school property, and
who booby trap a lab Imposing stricter penalties for those who steal or possess
stolen anhydrous ammonia, from a misdemeanor to a Class E felony Working with the state health commissioner, the
commissioner of the Criminal Services Division and state police
superintendent to establish standards and procedures restricting the sale
of certain types of medications and chemicals commonly used in meth
production Establish a multi-disciplinary emergency response team to
address the immediate and long-term health and safety needs of meth-endangered
children Requiring the state Department of Environmental
Conservation and Health Department to establish a system for determining
the proper disposal of products left behind from a meth lab, as well as
the degree of cleanup necessary to rehabilitate former meth laboratories.
We must stop meth production now. It is
time to give law enforcement the tools it needs to fight meth production at
every level.
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