Starting today, Phoenix buyers of cold medications containing pseudoephedrine must show identification and write down their name, date of birth, and address in a log book that shop owners will turn over to police each month, says the Arizona Republic. Retailers also will track the quantities of pseudoephedrine that customers buy. Phoenix officials laud the new restrictions as a way to ratchet up their fight against methamphetamine. “Meth is a huge, huge problem in our community and really across the nation,” Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said. “I think these laws are going to be effective because they’re going to be a deterrent.”
In the past 12 months, law enforcement officials busted nearly 150 meth labs in Phoenix. Phoenix police Sgt. Don Sherrard said the logs will be a useful tool. “It will give us direct information and let us spot trends in purchases,” he said. “And it works on the paranoia that methamphetamine naturally creates. If they have to show ID, it’s going to stop a lot of them from doing that.” Jose Chavez, 19, sees a flaw in the law because it doesn’t allow people without identification to get simple remedies. “What if you don’t have ID?” he said. “It’s going to be tough to get the medication you need for your family.”
Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1205phxmeth-ON.html