Aurora looking at drug ordinance

In an effort to raise city revenue and keep its cops on the street and out of court, Aurora aldermen are considering a new local ordinance that would allow the city to legislate over cases of "smaller amounts of cannabis" and drug paraphernalia.

The ordinance being considered by aldermen in the city's government operations committee would make possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis punishable by a fine of between $500 and $1,500 per violation.

"Our community-area policing folks asked us to consider making what would be a misdemeanor under the state statute into a local ordinance violation and allow that to be beneficial in many ways throughout the city, resource-wise and revenue-wise," 9th Ward Alderman Leroy Keith said.

Local prosecution, he said, would reduce the time officers spend in county courts testifying and allow the city to retain the entire fine collected.

"It's important to note that this is not a ticket issue where the offender gets caught with a joint only to be given a ticket and sent on his merry way," Keith said. "The individual will be treated in the same fashion as if they were charged with state law."

If approved, the ordinance would also provide for administrative review by a hearing officer, if the defendant petitions to go before the hearing officer.

Aldermen are likely to approve the new law at next week's city council meeting, as well as decide whether any fines collected would go to the police department budget or stay in the city's general fund.