Cops Say Camera Caught Driver Smoking Pot

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-camera12.html ^ | 8-12-03 | Frank Main

[OXENinFLA]

Camera's first catch gets felony drug charge

As Marcus D. Jackson smoked dope in a blue Chevy Caprice, he had no idea anyone was watching, police say.

But about a block away, officers were monitoring his every move on a surveillance camera set up at Augusta and Pulaski to target crimes both serious and minor that bring down the neighborhood's quality of life.

When they swooped in and arrested Jackson, the officers allegedly found $20 worth of pot and Ecstasy, a so-called "club drug," valued at $60.

The 1:30 a.m. Saturday bust was the first one for Operation Disruption, which saw its first cameras installed two weeks ago.

"What you are seeing is people are getting used to the cameras and going back to their old behavior," said Pat Camden, a Chicago police spokesman. "And we are there watching them."

The officers who collared Jackson are part of a new 100-member team, the Targeted Response Unit, which is patrolling the West Side's Harrison police district, typically the city's most murderous place.

The unit swarmed into the area at the beginning of August and in a week recovered 11 guns, impounded 87 vehicles and made 284 arrests on charges ranging from gun possession to car theft.

The goal is to discourage "off-duty criminals" like Jackson from committing more serious offenses than smoking pot, police said. Jackson, 22, was on parole for drug dealing and possession of a stolen vehicle. The 5-foot-tall man, known as "Shorty," admitted he was a Four Corner Hustlers gang member, police said.

The car Jackson was riding in has been impounded, and a judge has ordered him held on $40,000 bail. He was charged with a felony for the Ecstasy and a misdemeanor for the pot.

"We are looking at potential criminals who affect the quality of life," Camden said. "Sitting in a car smoking reefer sounds innocent enough, but you don't know what he plans to do from there."

Jackson's mother, Susie Jackson, said her son posted bail and is free pending his next court hearing on Sept. 3.

"He is nervous because he is on parole," she said. "He does not know what will happen when he goes back to court. This isn't fair. It's not like he was dealing drugs. I don't see how they could arrest him for just sitting there smoking weed. Most young people do that."

Jackson's mother has seen the cameras and does not like them. "To me, that is an invasion," she said.

Generally, though, the cameras don't violate the constitutional right to privacy if they're trained on public spaces, the American Civil Liberties Union says

[TheBattman]

And of course, Jessie Jacka$$on will jump on this becuase the cameras are there to opress, degenerate, and descriminate against the downtrodden brothers in the hood.......

[Quick1]

I also don't believe in unmanned cameras, you have the right to face your accuser in court. An electronic system that mails you a ticket does not meet this standard.

I remember reading a story about someone who got a ticket from one of the electronic cameras. When he went into court, he wanted to face his accuser, so the police ripped the camera off the pole, and brought it into court.

Urban legend? Don't know, but it's a good story nonetheless.

[usadave]

What a scary quote. Forget 1984, it is here today in the good old USA. Big brother is watching us.

Big Brother can watch me not breaking the law all day long.

[kkindt]

BIG BROTHER was a cruel dictatorship using these cameras. Our police are using these cameras to arrest and convict criminals not spy on innocent people. WHat's the difference if they were sitting in a building with binoculars or sitting in front of a computer monitor?

I am so glad this is still legal for them to do. Beware of the eyes that are watching you one might be a police camera. We all need this kind of uneasiness in public about being caught doing something wrong. NO more speeding. No more running redlights. No more drunk driving. The cameras will get you!!! YES!! WOW!! This will mean anyone who drives drunk, runs red lights, speeds like an idiot will get caught a lot, lot more and be convicted a lot easier. Fewer drunk driving slaughters and fewer red light demons crashing and killing little children.

[bonfire]

Pot smokers keep the 7-11's in business.

[MrLeRoy]

"Sitting in a car smoking reefer sounds innocent enough, but you don't know what he plans to do from there."

Play wild jazz music and seduce white women, no doubt.

[Pest]

How did the cops know it was pot he was smoking just from the view from the cameras? I know a few people who roll their own (tobacco) cigarettes, and if one is out of range of the scent, it looks a little like they're smoking pot.

Maybe he was using a 3-foot water bong!

[68 grunt]

... and they could spend more time looking for the real criminals,

But wait, thats dangerous isn't it? Bullies don't like to get hurt.

[68 grunt]

Big Brother can watch me not breaking the law all day long./b>

Ja, ja, du are right. If dur paperz are in order, und du behafe zurself, Big Brother will take care of du. Und vorzhip da furher.

[68 grunt]

</b>

[Scenic Sounds]

Play wild jazz music and seduce white women, no doubt.

LOL. ;-)

[AnnaZ]

Play wild jazz music and seduce white women, no doubt.

And then... more snacks!!! (or even (((shudder!))) a tobacco cigarette!)

[IowaHawk]

Hooray! I'll certainly sleep better tonight knowing that the omnipresent Policebot surveilance camdroids are sweeping the streets of dangerous reefer junkies.

[AnnaZ]

Pot smokers keep the 7-11's in business.

POT... does a body, and economy, good! I can see the posters now.

[AnnaZ]

gotta get me some munchies!

I knew this no-carb thing was a mistake.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[AAABEST]

So smoking pot in a car is okay but drinking a beer in a car is bad?

Actually in a strange way yes. Driving drunk can cause you to crash your car killing someone in the process. Driving stoned won't cause you to crash your car. You may get lost or something, but you probably won't crash.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"As Marcus D. Jackson smoked dope in a blue Chevy Caprice..."

Smoking pot in public and in cars is part of Hip Hop culture. It's not uncommon in some urban areas.

I wonder if defenders of the Hip Hop culture will defend this as a legitimate form of rebellion against the man.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Most cop killers start off with marijuana...

[Mr. Mojo]

Yep, if anything, driving while stoned causes one to drive more slowly and carefully (although that could partly be attributed to super-awareness/paranoia about cops). And unlike alcohol, pot doesn't affect depth perception.