-Caveat Lector- February 7, 2001 California officers say prospects dim on policing of power <http://www.dallasnews.com/national/280219_power_06nat.AR.html> Difficulties foreseen in enforcing conservation 02/06/2001 From wire reports REDDING, Calif. - California law enforcement officials say they don't want to be "power cops." But they fear that's exactly what will happen now that Gov. Gray Davis has signed an emergency measure allowing the state to buy its own energy and launch a $404 million conservation campaign. As part of the campaign, California retailers including restaurants, shopping malls, car dealerships and other establishments must reduce outdoor lighting to 20 percent or less of capacity during nonbusiness hours, according to the governor's order. After one warning, if they fail to comply, businesses could be slapped with a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $1,000. Local law enforcement agencies are being told to begin enforcing those rules March 15. But authorities said that enforcement may be impossible. Police officers and sheriff's deputies on patrol have neither the time nor the means to chide watt-wasting businesses, said Shasta County Undersheriff Larry Schaller. "You cannot distinguish a day watt from a night watt from an indoor watt from an outdoor watt," Undersheriff Schaller said. "You just can't do it. You've got to have something to gauge it against. "Law enforcement is not going to allow itself to be power cops." More disturbing, Undersheriff Schaller said, is the public safety hazard that might be faced should lights go down at night. The governor's measure requires conservation "except as necessary for the health and safety of the public, employees, or property." Indeed, darkening auto dealerships and store parking lots could "be a help for the criminal element," said Lt. Jim Peery of the Police Department in Tustin, south of Los Angeles. Lt. Peery said his department's 95 officers might have to do extra policing if businesses darken their outdoor signs and lights. The governor's order won support from the California Retailers Association, which represents 55 companies, including Sears and Target. The order is one piece of a plan to solve the power crunch that has left California's electrical grid on high alert for three weeks. Also on Monday, Mr. Davis used his emergency authority to seize long-term power contracts held by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., one of the state's financially strapped utilities, just before the assets could have been seized by creditors. On Friday, he snapped up long-term power contracts owned by Southern California Edison. That followed approval of legislation allowing the state to spend $10 billion to buy power. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
