CITY TO TRY NO-STOPPING ZONE IN DRUG WAR

Vancouver police and the city's engineering department are making the
100-block East Hastings a no-parking and no-stopping zone in an attempt to
cut drug trafficking in the area.

The two-month trial program which will likely start on Friday, will ban all
parking and stopping in the block except for commercial vehicles and taxis.

Any other vehicle will be subject to fines or impoundment.

Detective Scott Driemel said the measure was taken after an accident
analysis study between Jan.1,1997 and Dec. 31, 2001 showed there were 79
reported accidents in the block, including 40 that were pedestrian-related.

He said many of those accidents were caused by drug dealers blocking
traffic while stopping, and by drug users darting in and out of traffic to
get to the dealer in the car.

"This block recorded the highest number of accidents in the city of
Vancouver in 2000 and the second highest in 2001," said Driemel.
"Hopefully, this will reduce the drug activity and produce a safer
environment for merchants, customers and area residents."

Driemel said many drug dealers from outside Vancouver drive straight to the
100-block East Hastings and turn their car into a base of operations.

Driemel couldn't say if the policy would simply result in dealers parking
their vehicles in another nearby city block. The policy's effectiveness
will be determined after two months.

He also said he hasn't heard of any other city blocks being made a
no-stopping zone to thwart criminal activity.