Posted on 03/10/2016 11:53:05 AM PST by MarvinStinson
CHICAGO (CBS) –A 63-year-old Chicago man was charged Tuesday with using an illegal device to get some peace and quiet on the CTA.
CBS 2’s Audrina Bigos reports it isn’t the first time the man has been accused of jamming cell phones and lots of complaints about dropped calls raised some eyebrows.
With a ball cap and business casual attire, the certified public accountant Dennis Nicholl walked out of jail after being charged with a felony for use of a signal jamming device.
Keegan Goudie says the device, “stuck out like a sore thumb” so much so that he and his brother blogged about it on thesixthirty.com after spotting it on the CTA Red Line.
“He seemed to be up to no good,” Chas said. “It seemed like this device was something he shouldn’t have his hands on.”
Cell phone jammers are sold online for anywhere between $30 and $300. Federal law prohibits anyone from selling, buying or operating the devices. They block cell phone reception, police radios and emergency calls.
“I think it does go to show in terms of security and terrorist threats in any major city what any person is capable of,” said Keegan.
For months, Chicago Police investigated complaints about dropped calls on the Red Line. Then, a 911 caller flagged police about the now notorious Nicholl. Undercover officers arrested him on a CTA platform Tuesday and he is now facing a felony charge.
“He had no malicious intent to really hurt anybody,” said attorney Charles Lauer.
His attorney says Nicholl was just annoyed by all the people on their cell phones and used the jammer to get a little peace and quiet.
According to the FCC, cell phone jammers can face prison time and significant fines, $16,000 for each violation or as high as $112,000 for using the device just once.
Nicholl left jail Wednesday night after bonding out.
I’ve often been tempted to get one myself...
parents could get one and actually have a conversation with their teens
would love to get a small pocket size one.
Let me tell you the story
Of a man named Dennis
On a tragic and fateful day
He put a jammer in his pocket,
Kissed his wife and family
Went to ride on the CTA ...
Septa in SE PA has a quiet ride car on rush hour trains, as does Amtrak. Doesn’t look like CTA has that.
Shooting earplugs, or headphones would have cheaper!
If they are against the law, why do they sell them?
There is a mom who developed an app to put on her teen’s phone that locks the phone after a few minutes if the teen doesn’t answer mom’s call or respond to her text. I think it is only available for Samsung phones, though.
So you could have control over people?
Why would anyone care if people were having a conversation on a train?
Finish the story.
Because some people don’t follow the law.
“If they are against the law, why do they sell them?”
—
They buy them the way the shooters bought the guns in Paris,illegally. Easter these days than it used to be.
.
I knew a guy who didn’t want anyone to chew gum on the bus he was on.
Here is a 1980s tv show based on it: The Murderer. Its worth the watch.
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn’d
If they are against the law, why do they sell them?
*************
They have legit legal uses ,,, hospitals use them ,, some churches have notices up stating that they are in use during services and I suppose jails and other secure areas have them to stop illicit communications.
Also, I hope all the RF from the jammer has cooked his crotch.
Not to mention the resistance when the regime starts to go full Nazi on us.
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