cannabisnews.com: Some Marijuana Arrests May Mean Just a Ticket





Some Marijuana Arrests May Mean Just a Ticket
Posted by CN Staff on September 21, 2004 at 08:56:02 PT
By David Heinzmann, Tribune Staff Reporter
Source: Chicago Tribune 
With most arrests for small amounts of marijuana dismissed by the courts or dropped by prosecutors, Chicago police are exploring whether writing tickets would be a more effective way to handle such cases.Writing an ordinance violation citation for possession of under 30 grams of marijuana might save hours of fruitless labor for police and result in more fines paid to the city, Police Officer Thomas Donegan said in a memo to Supt. Philip Cline.
Frustrated at seeing most of his minor drug arrests dismissed in court, Donegan said the department would do better to write ordinance violation citations.With ordinance violations it is easier to find the defendants guilty, Donegan wrote, and fines levied would go to city coffers. Several suburbs write tickets for possession of small amounts of marijuana.Police officials said they are considering the proposal, which would require City Council approval to prosecute such the cases as an ordinance violation rather than as a state crime. The officials said they have not made any decision.Police spokesman David Bayless acknowledged that not arresting people possessing small amounts of marijuana would be a departure from the aggressive give-no-ground tactics the department has pursued over the last year."However, you could argue that it would let us keep more officers on the street," he said. One of the complaints in Donegan's proposals is that officers waste large amounts of time creating paperwork and going to court, preparing to testify in drug cases that end up being dismissed.In 2003, 8,041 people were arrested for possessing less than 2 1/2 grams of marijuana, according to police statistics. Circuit Court records show a slightly smaller number of cases being charged, but 94 percent of them were later dropped, according to Donegan's report.The numbers are similar for arrests for possession of less than 10 grams. Of the less than 3,000 arrests of people caught with between 10 and 30 grams, just over half of those cases were dropped.A spokesman for Cook County State's Atty. Richard Devine said the office is open to discussing the idea with police."To my knowledge, the superintendent hasn't called us to ask for a meeting, but we meet with him from time to time," said spokesman John Gorman. Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)Author: David Heinzmann, Tribune Staff ReporterPublished: September 21, 2004Copyright: 2004 Chicago Tribune CompanyContact: ctc-TribLetter Tribune.comWebsite: http://www.chicagotribune.com/Related Article:Cop Wants To Fine -- Not Jail -- Potheads http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19516.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by westnyc on September 22, 2004 at 07:08:17 PT
Untold costs!
I really don't think that for most people the issue is so much as having to pay a fine. I think the real issue of 8041 people arrested is the criminal record associated with being arrested for drugs. How many of these people will lose their jobs and reputations and then face the resulting consequences of not being able to pay for their homes and cars and tuitions, etc.? Who then has to pick-up the tab? It seems like the financial institutions would realize these drug laws are costing them millions when citizens can no longer pay their bills. How long before a marijuana arrest will make an individual ineligible for any type of loan? How long before citizens must pass a drug test before they can aquire any type of loan; and, participate randomly to remain eligible?
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on September 21, 2004 at 17:55:59 PT
Get a ticket
Lets say you get a ticket. Can you go to court an contest it? Plead innocent? Will the cop have some on the spot scientific test kit to provide legal proof that it is really cannabis or just parsley? Would they take it for evidence? How much would the ticket be? Can you refuse the ticket? This issue actually raises a lot more questions. The judges are right to drop the cases. The ticket thing could be a form of harrassment on certain known groups. 
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Comment #4 posted by siege on September 21, 2004 at 11:26:39 PT
lost though on #3
19,000 arrests a year. what they say is 6% of 8,041 and 6% of about 8,000 and about 45% of less than 3,000 dropped.
that knot a good % of prosecution.and good marijuana possession 
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Comment #3 posted by siege on September 21, 2004 at 11:15:24 PT
      19,000 arrests 
2003, 8,041 people were arrested for possessing less than 2 1/2 grams. of marijuana,The numbers are similar for arrests for possession of less than 10 grams.
 
 less than 3,000 arrests of people caught with between 10 and 30 grams, just over half of those cases were dropped. 8,041 less than 2 1/2 grams 94 percent dropped, about 8,000 less 10 grams. 94 percent dropped, less than 3,000 between 10 and 30 grams, just over half dropped. what they are saying is that they have over 19,000 arrests a year. what they say is 6% of 8,041 and 6% of about 8,000 and about 55% of less than 3,000 all get dropped thats a lot of wasted Time and Money that could be going some place for the better ment of the town. paragraph 8 & 9.
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Comment #2 posted by CorvallisEric on September 21, 2004 at 10:25:01 PT
A heretical question
"... you could argue that it would let us keep more officers on the street," he said. One of the complaints in Donegan's proposals is that officers waste large amounts of time creating paperwork and going to court, preparing to testify in drug cases that end up being dismissed.I wonder if there isn't a silent part of the force that likes nothing better than paperwork and going to court instead of dealing with real problems and crime.
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Comment #1 posted by goneposthole on September 21, 2004 at 09:35:23 PT
8,041 arrested for possession
The number of people actively seeking some cannabis for personal use.If the state of Illinois were to sanction cannabis stores, that would be at least 8,041 customers each day that the state could use as a revenue source.I'll bet more money that there would be more customers each day than that.Easy as pie. You don't have to be a bean counter to be able to smell the coffee on this one.Cannabis trade pays for everybody.
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