Sen. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) is proposing new legislation designed to help fight the drug smuggling problem in Arizona.

If Senate Bill 1026 becomes law, the Department of Public Safety would need to seek grant funding to install high-tech underground seismic sensors at rural airfields.  These sensors would then be used to monitor areas being used for drug and human smuggling around the Mexican border.

Pearce feels that if the federal government will not build a fence to stop the problem, then the state of Arizona needs to take action.  He also claims the bill would not cost the state anything, as federal stimulus money is available.  If federal money was not available, or if the state could not obtain federal money, the program wouldn’t launch.

Critics of the legislation feel it could overburden the DPS, which is already stretched thin with budget cuts and hiring freezes.  Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor (D-Phoenix), for example, is concerned that the DPS does not have enough resources to comply with the law. 

DPS officials are also concerned.  Lt. Lynn Ideus said the time it would take just to identify the state’s remote landing strips and write grant proposals would be a huge undertaking for the department.

However, supporters of the legsilstion say that if the DPS doesn’t have the man power or resources to get these sensors set up, they could ask for help from county sheriffs and volunteers.

The bill was passed by the Senate Public Safety on Human Services Committee with a 6-0 vote.  It now goes on to the Senate Rules Committee.

If you are interested in learning more about these or any other drug crime laws in Arizona, an experienced Phoenix criminal defense lawyer at the Knowles Law Firm, PLC would be more than happy to answer your questions.

Contact the Knowles Law Firm, PLC today!