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State needs wiretaps
to spot meth imports

THE ISSUE Restrictions on pills containing an ingredient of methamphetamine have resulted in a rise of meth imported from Mexico.

STATE laws restricting or banning sales of over-the-counter cold remedies containing a drug essential in methamphetamine are causing an increase in smuggling of "ice" into the U.S. mainland from Mexico, and much of it inevitably will be routed to Hawaii. Authorities have been successful in intercepting the shipments with the help of federal wiretap surveillance. The state needs similar wiretap authority to sustain the effort.

Oklahoma became the first state, in April 2004, to ban over-the-counter sales of cold and allergy medications containing pseudoephedrine, used in small labs to make crystal meth. Governor Lingle this year signed into law restricting such sales to three packages or nine grams of tablets containing the drug.

Oklahoma's ban resulted in a 90 percent reduction of meth lab seizures. However, seizures of smokeable crystal meth originating in Mexico rose nearly five-fold, from 384 cases in the 15 months before the law to 1,875 since then. Similar trends are expected in other states that have bans or restrictions.

Narcotic shipments seized at California's five ports of entry from Mexico rose from 134,379 pounds to 227,567 pounds between October 2004 to June of this year compared to the previous nine months.

Last year, authorities in California and Hawaii arrested 30 people involved in distributing Mexican meth and other drugs originating elsewhere. In October, federal officials charged 16 people with distributing 20 pounds of ice a month from Mexican drug sources.

In a joint investigation, federal and Big Island authorities recently filed charges against members of a group believed to have imported more than 200 pounds of ice -- enough for 1.5 million hits worth more than $1 million.

State law requiring adversarial hearings before a judge on the use of wiretaps has hampered state and county agencies in pursuing smugglers. Federal law has no such requirement, and state legislation is needed to correct this deficiency.

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Put traffic lights in before
accident occurs

THE ISSUE Residents have been asking for a traffic signal at a dangerous intersection for years.

WHETHER the view is fair or not, it appears that until people are injured or killed at dangerous intersections and roadways, traffic lights and signs already determined necessary for safety aren't installed expeditiously.

It doesn't much matter to the public whether government -- city, state or federal -- or private enterprise was responsible for the delay, nor the reasons -- permits or regulations -- for the holdup. For taxpayers and the families of those affected, all that counts is that the crosswalks, traffic lights or warning signs weren't there.

On Monday, a woman and three children were struck by a pickup truck at an Ewa intersection where dozens of accidents and near-misses have occurred.

For years, residents have wanted a signal there because of heavy pedestrian use and the elementary school nearby. Despite the state's preliminary approval in 2003, the area's developer says problems with permits delayed the project.

However, two days after the accident that sent a 6-year-old boy to the hospital, the developer, its engineers and government agencies say they will speed the process. Even so, the process might take from six to nine months.

In Makakilo, where a teenager trying to catch a school bus died after being hit by a truck in April, the city earlier this month finally completed installation of traffic safety signs along the main road through the neighborhood. A "traffic calming" plan, however, is still in the works, slowed by miscommunication between city and neighborhood board officials.

While there is need for careful planning, state and city officials should better coordinate their permit and regulatory procedures when traffic safety is involved. They also should prod federal agencies to speed approvals and require developers to prioritize safety measures.

Let's not wait until an accident happens. Let's not wait until someone gets hurt.

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