West Virginia cities are considering ordinances targeting property owners for repeated illegal incidents on their premises.
Local news outlets report similar proposals in Huntington and Nitro follow the model of a Martinsburg drug house ordinance that went into effect in May and has since produced several busts.
The Herald-Dispatch reports the Huntington City Council Public Safety Committee voted Monday to send the ordinance to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation. The law would see the declaration of properties where two or more illegal incidents occur within a year as public nuisances, resulting in the eviction of tenants involved in the illegal activities and possible fines for the property owners.
WSAZ-TV reports that Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt says a similar ordinance might go into effect this month.