tranquilo
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2000
- Messages
- 1,077
Would like to draw everyones attention to the recently passed drugs laws up in the Northern Territory. If this has already been commented on then my apologies but a search came up zero.
This legislation is based upon a zero tolerence attitude with a bottom up approach to the eradication of both usage and supply; it therefore targets cannabis users and growers as its starting point. No doubt all you sophisticated city types will have a few 'country bumpkin' jokes but if successful (ie there is enough 'centre ground' political gain) these policies could find there way to a state government near you. And if you think that sniffer dogs in Sydney or property confiscation in WA are draconian then get a load of this:
Police can apply for a Drug Premises Order (DPO) if they believe or suspect that drugs are being supplied from a house. Belief or suspicion can be garnered not only from the usual sources (eg surveillance, warranted searches) but even from reports of 'high numbers of visitors to a premises'....so don't have too many friends dropping by.
Once a DPO has been issued then:
a 100 cm by 50 fluorescent green sign is placed in front of the house warning that "these premises are Drugs Premises under the misuse of drugs act"
This then authorises police to:
search the premises at any time and without a warrant
conduct an internal search of any persons on the premises
charge any person in the premise with possesion if substances are found anywhere on the premises
demand the name and address of any person within 200 metres of a DPO premise
This is in addition to new laws to confiscate property as in WA.
It all sounds too stupid to actually be either legal or effective but please think "thin end of the wedge".
I'd like to add that this raft of rather dubious legialation has been passed by a labour state government....if it appeals to voters other labour administrations (eg Bracks, Gallop) may well copy it.
But hopefully it will go the way of 'mandatory sentencing' and die a swift, ignominious death. I'm sure any Bluelighter support would be of great use and should be direct towards http://napnt.tripod.com
This legislation is based upon a zero tolerence attitude with a bottom up approach to the eradication of both usage and supply; it therefore targets cannabis users and growers as its starting point. No doubt all you sophisticated city types will have a few 'country bumpkin' jokes but if successful (ie there is enough 'centre ground' political gain) these policies could find there way to a state government near you. And if you think that sniffer dogs in Sydney or property confiscation in WA are draconian then get a load of this:
Police can apply for a Drug Premises Order (DPO) if they believe or suspect that drugs are being supplied from a house. Belief or suspicion can be garnered not only from the usual sources (eg surveillance, warranted searches) but even from reports of 'high numbers of visitors to a premises'....so don't have too many friends dropping by.
Once a DPO has been issued then:
a 100 cm by 50 fluorescent green sign is placed in front of the house warning that "these premises are Drugs Premises under the misuse of drugs act"
This then authorises police to:
search the premises at any time and without a warrant
conduct an internal search of any persons on the premises
charge any person in the premise with possesion if substances are found anywhere on the premises
demand the name and address of any person within 200 metres of a DPO premise
This is in addition to new laws to confiscate property as in WA.
It all sounds too stupid to actually be either legal or effective but please think "thin end of the wedge".
I'd like to add that this raft of rather dubious legialation has been passed by a labour state government....if it appeals to voters other labour administrations (eg Bracks, Gallop) may well copy it.
But hopefully it will go the way of 'mandatory sentencing' and die a swift, ignominious death. I'm sure any Bluelighter support would be of great use and should be direct towards http://napnt.tripod.com