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

[dljordan]

"Potential criminals who affect the quality of life", that could characterize politicans, judges, some police, etc...

[weegee]

NORML's own position prohibits driving under the influence of marijuana:

Policy debates regarding marijuana-law reform invariably raise the issue of marijuana and driving. This is a valid concern. In fact, NORML's own "Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use" invoke a "no driving" clause, stating: "Although cannabis is said by most experts to be safer than alcohol and many prescription drugs with motorists, responsible cannabis consumers never operate motor vehicles in an impaired condition."

[AAABEST]

I'm certainly not advocating driving while stoned or even getting stoned period.

I'm only saying that it's much safer than alcohol.

[Ipse Dixit]

There are times when I seriously question just how many of the "1984" claqueurs about have actually even bothered read the friggin' book all the way through ... and this is one.

[FreeLibertarian]

Big Brother is watching!

[jmc813]

Smoking pot in public and in cars is part of Hip Hop culture.

Does it cause black men to have sex with white women too, Henry?

[CollegeRepublican]

It is called incrementalism,a policy or advocacy of a policy of political or social change by degrees. I pefer to fight ever little encroachment on my liberties and freedoms. Here in Maryland they have traffic cameras and the freedom loving safety concience State shortened the time that yellow lights were activated so that they could reap more profit from tickets. This actually causes more accidents and makes more people than necessary break the law and if you are on camera how can you deny that you broke the law? In the eyes of the state no one is innocent, everyone is a potential criminal.

Ask the boy in Anne Arundel county Maryland that was shot in the face by an FBI agent for following directions if all the police do is arrest and convict criminals. People make mistakes, police make mistakes, but I don't think that the police need cameras everywhere to arrest and convict criminals.

[MrLeRoy]

Most cop killers start off with marijuana...

Most cop killers start off with milk.

[weegee]

...shortened the time that yellow lights were activated so that they could reap more profit from tickets. This actually causes more accidents and makes more people than necessary break the law and if you are on camera how can you deny that you broke the law? In the eyes of the state no one is innocent, everyone is a potential criminal.

Fight the law with the law. Unmanned cameras don't hold up in court. Also challenge the length of the traffic light. Often when lights are very short, you will find that they are illegally calibrated to be short. You may not get anyone in the city fined but you will find that the light will be set to the minimum duration at least. Followup on it. See that they carry out the change. Go to a local news watchdog.

"Fighting" means actually fighting back, not just talking about it.

[Liberal Classic]

[CollegeRepublican]

The camera issue has been brought to the public's attention in DC and Maryland and the problem has been fixed.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"Does it cause black men to have sex with white women too, Henry?"

You tell me...

[Robert_Paulson2]

Hey, as long as it prevents this would be criminal from doing whatever these "clarivoyant" cops think he might be thinking about doing... than it's aok... right?

he might have been thinking about robbing a bank right?
and the woman putting on her lipstick might be thinking about turning a "trick" right?

and that guy who just looked like he hiccuped on camera, is probably either drunk, or thinking about having a few on the way home. After all its five on friday, right?

By the time americana wakes up to the "big brother" in every bedroom aspect of this trend in law enforcment, it will be WAY past their ability to do anything about it. After all, all they gotta do, is arrest you for what they THINK you were thinking about doing, based on your suspicious on camera performance...

Scratch yourself in public as a male... and we will assume you were considering a visit to your neighborhood hooker or divorcee right?

The girl in a slipdress looks nervous... must be a sex or drug crime in progress... of course she could be on her way to the prom too... WHATHEHELL, she's cute, let's pull her over anyway.

the potential for abuse of power is amazing.

[robertpaulsen]

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

You mean real criminals like a Four Corner Hustlers gang member convicted of felony drug dealing and felony carjacking who violated their parole by felony possession of a drug and doing drugs on the street at 1:30 AM?

That kind of real criminal? And all accomplished by the ripe old age of 22. And mama blames the cameras.

[u-89]

[u-89]

[u-89]

[FixitGuy]

Wait 'till they install "sniffers" along with cameras.

You won't dare fart in public!

I'm dead meat!

[Tony in Hawaii]

Hey now, you two are supposed to be conservative Republicans!

[jmc813]

Which one of you guys screwed up the speling of Robert Pauls*n?