The city hopes to designate parks and businesses where children play as “drug free” zones.

For years, school zones in Maine have been designated as drug free zones, with increased penalties for any drug-related offenses committed within 1,000 feet of a school.

During this past session, the Maine Legislature expanded the existing law to include any place where children might play. Police Chief Paul McCarthy said the new law applies to places owned by municipalities, such as athletic fields, parks and playgrounds.

The law also allows privately-owned places for recreation, such as bowling alleys, movie theaters and day care centers, to be included for the first time. McCarthy said he believed Westbrook would be the first city in the state to use the new law to designate private businesses as drug free safe zones.

Under the law, the safe zones would be marked with a sign that reads “Drug-Free Safe Zone, increased penalties for drug crimes committed within this zone.” McCarthy said the city is asking businesses to pay the $45 cost of the sign, but added the city would provide a sign to any business that wanted to participate in the safe zone program, but didn’t want to pay the cost of the sign.

If someone is convicted of a drug offense within 1,000 feet of a posted safe zone, McCarthy said the crime is raised one class level. For example, being convicted of possessing more than one pound of marijuana in a safe zone moves the crime from a class C crime to a class B crime.

“If we can get enhanced penalties for trafficking in this city, it has the potential to have a chilling effect on drug trafficking in Westbrook,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy was scheduled to discuss the program with the City Council Monday night, after the American Journal’s press time. If the council were to vote to approve the plan, McCarthy said he has already identified 16 city-owned sites that would immediately be posted as drug free safe zones. Those sites include: Riverbank Park, Bicentennial Park, the Foster Street ball field, the outdoor pool and basketball courts at the Cornelia Warren complex on Main Street and all athletic fields owned by the School Department.

In addition to all of the city-owned sites, McCarthy has identified 43 privately owned sites around the city that meet the qualifications to be considered drug free safe zones under the law. He has sent letters to the owners of those places, and he has gotten a good response so far, saying he has tentative agreements already with many of the owners.

One business that is definitely behind the push to declare safe zones is the Little Dolphin School on County Road. Dr. Steven Brier, executive director of the Little Dolphin School Foundation, said he thinks the idea is a good one.

“As the steward of 140 children, I believe we should have enhanced penalties for anyone who sells drugs with young children around,” he said.

Brier added the Little Dolphin School, which has been open in Westbrook since 1999, would pay the cost of the sign to designate the school a safe zone. “We would be very happy to front the money and be part of the safe zones,” he said.

If the council approves the plan, McCarthy said the city-owned sites would be immediately designated as safe zones. He added the privately-owned sites would be posted as soon as agreements could be reached and signs ordered from the state.

McCarthy said he believes the program is a good one, and will go a long way to helping fight drugs in Westbrook. “I think it’s good for the businesses and good for the community,” he said. “I can’t imagine any business that wouldn’t want to be designated as a safe zone.”

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