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

[OXENinFLA]

1984 coming to a town near you.

[CollegeRepublican]

"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."

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

[Mr. Mojo]

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.

1984, indeed.

[Mr. Mojo]

Yep, that's about the most frightening quote I've read in a while.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, he was an idiot for doing it in his car out in public...

[Pagey]

Jackson's mother Susie Jackson said
"...just sitting there smoking weed. Most young people do that..."
No Ms. Jackson, most young people don't do that and aren't on parole at age 22 either.I'll bet that he knows exactly what that judge is going to do when he finds he's on parole.So cameras have finally made their way to Arizona, huh?That's nothing compared to Los Angeles,where(unfortunately) the camera brings in much income for the authorities.

[AnnaZ]

"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."

Get a snack?

[CollegeRepublican]

Well, he was an idiot for doing it in his car out in public...

No doubt that the guy getting arrested was an idiot, but the attitude of the police and their quotes are unbelievable.

[KEVLAR]

Oh, it gets worse, some years ago Illinois created a system that takes a digital "faceprint" when you have your drivers license photo taken. This is the same technology used at the superbowl. How long before mayor Daley links to this database, not of criminals, but of all Illinois residents?

[Chad Fairbanks]

No argument here...

[Feiny]

BWHAHAHHAA! gotta get me some munchies!

[Quick1]

Very scary quote.

Of course, if pot were legal, the cops wouldn't need to waste time looking for harmless smokers, and they could spend more time looking for the real criminals.

[weegee]

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

I do think that there is a double standard with regards to who can have dark tinted windows.

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.

[optimistically_conservative]

U.S. Develops Urban Surveillance System

[weegee]

While it is legal to have sex, having sex in public in your car will still get you arrested.

People need to look at what was happening here. Whether pot is legal or illegal, the man would have been breaking the law to be smoking pot behind the wheel.

Also if pot were legal, would esctasy? Cocaine? Heroin? LSD? STP? GHB? Hashish?

If pot is legalized, (and "taxed"), would the ATF replace the DEA for enforcement?

"Solving" one problem begets another. None of my discussion even addresses possible health effects, car accidents (DUI), or underage use. I don't even want to get into that (personal responsibility addresses some of that).

[Pro-Bush]

Great, what's next?

[joesnuffy]

I see a market for a special window tint

[LurkedLongEnough]

Defense attorney needs to bone up on the ability to discredit the camera-show type of "evidence".

[palmer]

Great, what's next?

Camera has software to recognize pot smoking and automatically sends you a ticket in the mail.