Consumers who buy popular cold remedies in Riverside County would be required to give their names, addresses, and telephone and driver's license numbers to store clerks for law enforcement inspection under a sweeping rule aimed at illicit production of methamphetamine.
The ordinance, unanimously approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors, will take effect if given final approval in the next 30 days.
The law would be the toughest of its kind in California. It comes as both Congress and the state Legislature are considering bills that would restrict the sale of medications, such as Sudafed and Nyquil, that contain the drug pseudoephedrine. It is among the ingredients used in makeshift laboratories to create methamphetamine.
Critics of the proposals say they would inconvenience law-abiding customers -- and pose a threat to privacy -- and might have only a minimal effect on the illicit drug traffic.
But in Riverside County, considered a major center of meth traffic, supporters said the measure was needed to stem a growing and often deadly drug problem.
"It's so important to let the residents know that we care about the meth problem, and we're going to do something about it," said Supervisor Jeff Stone, who sponsored the ordinance. "Anytime, anywhere, we are going to be proactive. That's the message that we want to get out."
Under the ordinance, customers who buy even one package of cold medication that includes pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine or related compounds would be required to provide the personal information to a store clerk. Stores would be required to keep the logs available for law enforcement officials for three years.
Retailers who fail to comply with the requirements could face fines of up to $1,000. The ordinance would not penalize customers.
The measure drew quick criticism from some pharmacists.
"Imagine you're in line and you're sick and getting antibiotics and you have to wait behind three people who have to fill out a stupid log," said Doug Sturtz, the pharmacist at a Longs Drugs in Riverside.
"Can you imagine what's going to happen at Costco? Can you just imagine the lines?" Sturtz added.
Others objected to the potential impact on customer privacy and raised questions about the law's effectiveness, noting that major meth traffickers did not get their ingredients from drug stores and that buyers could easily purchase the same items in neighboring counties.
