Chicago may ban little baggies

[erosion]

Tiny plastic bags used to sell small quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana and other drugs would be banned in Chicago, under a crackdown advanced Tuesday by a City Council committee.

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) persuaded the Health Committee to ban possession of "self-sealing plastic bags under two inches in either height or width," after picking up 15 of the bags on a recent Sunday afternoon stroll through a West Side park.

Lt. Kevin Navarro, commanding officer of the Chicago Police Department's Narcotics and Gang Unit, said the ordinance will be an "important tool" to go after grocery stores, health food stores and other businesses. The bags are used by the thousand to sell small quantities of drugs at $10 or $20 a bag.

Navarro referred to the plastic bags as "Marketing 101 for the drug dealers." Many of them have symbols, allowing drug users to ask for "Superman" or "Blue Dolphin" instead of the drug itself, he said.

Prior to the final vote, Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) expressed concern about arresting innocent people. He noted that extra buttons that come with suits, shirts and blouses -- and jewelry that's been repaired -- come in similar plastic bags.

Burnett was reassured by language that states "one reasonably should know that such items will be or are being used" to package, transfer, deliver or store a controlled substance. Violators would be punished by a $1,500 fine.

Health Committee Chairman Ed Smith (28th) said the ban is part of a desperate effort to stop what he called "the most destructive force" in Chicago neighborhoods.

"We need to use every measure that we possibly can to stop it because it is destroying our kids," he said.

City may ban little baggies
Chicago Sun Times
March 5, 2007
Link

 

[SKL]

"one reasonably should know that such items will be or are being used"

"Jewelry" bags aside, they kind of have a point. Unlike those little wax baggies, they really skirt the definition of a "dual-use item."

 

[recons]

In other news, because people use lighters to smoke weed and crack those are illegal now two.

In other news, drug dealers use cars to transport and sell drugs, those are also banned.

In other news, drug addicts use needles to get high, so all needles are illegal and hospitals can't use them anymore.
***
Lets make more shit illegal...

 

[sansserif]

are you fucking kidding me

 

[NikkiNumberNine]

Oh, yeah, that'll make people stop using drugs, for sure. I can't get my dope in a little baggie with Bart Simpson on it? Oh, well, skip it then, I don't want to get high.

Right...

Idiots.

 

[FDRinTRINIDAD]

Now what will I package my extra suite buttons in! Cause you know little baggies are the only way people package drugs what about just ripping up and a groccery bag and burning it shut. Maybe Chicago should just ban all plastic bags8) . We cant forgot about the children!

 

[Dragynfyr]

Oh, yeah, that'll make people stop using drugs, for sure. I can't get my dope in a little baggie with Bart Simpson on it? Oh, well, skip it then, I don't want to get high.

Right...

Idiots.

lol


Navarro referred to the plastic bags as "Marketing 101 for the drug dealers." Many of them have symbols, allowing drug users to ask for "Superman" or "Blue Dolphin" instead of the drug itself, he said.


Anyone else see the complete ignorance in this? Gee, only two of the most overused pill stamps in the world, I'm sure the kids were referring to the shit plastered on the side of the bag though.... "This is a roach, it is called so, because of it's striking resemblance to the common cockroach".....


Who ever opens up a specialty vial shop in chicago is going to make a killing!

 

[peaked]

I don't really see the point. Aluminum foil or plastic wrap will just be used in place of little baggies. Or people will just use the larger bags.

 

[BlueEclipse]

ok ill go back to making paper folds. i have no problem with that. or little ballons, pieces torns of wall mart bags. not gonna stop people, we will adapt , change and continue lol haha

 

[jdizzle]

This measure will end all drug dealing and/or use in Chicago single-handedly. Way to go Alderman Robert Fioretti!

WTF is an alderman anyways?

 

[pot_head22]

thats stupid. wouldnt people just use clippys bigger than 2" by 2" so they wouldnt be illegal.

 

[phase_dancer]

ok ill go back to making paper folds.....

The return of the bindle!

Plastic bags haven't been around for ever. Once upon a time, smaller deals of drugs were always paper wrapped. I don't think this will do anything towards stemming Chicago's drug situation.

Anyway, nowadays, a lot of users in this part of the world seem to buy their drugs in small isopropanol washed, vac sealed bags rather than in clip baggies. Word is, properly prepared these bags are more airtight and therefore less susceptible to being discovered by sniffer dogs.

 

[Pimp Lazy]

Wax paper folded and sealed with an iron.

Peace,
PL

 

[Dragynfyr]

^^^I like that one

 

[xorcist]

banning baggies will definitely decrease drug use!! i mean how will dealers possibly find something else to put their drugs in!!! blast those ingenious chicago law enforcement types and their brilliant ideas!!!

 

[london runner]

haha..... gettin arrested for the possession of a baggie...... what next, cling film? aKa plastic wrap.

 

[Secale_Cornutum]

Ald. Robert Fioretti (2nd) persuaded the Health Committee to ban possession of "self-sealing plastic bags under two inches in either height or width," after picking up 15 of the bags on a recent Sunday afternoon stroll through a West Side park.

So instead of small baggies, he will soon pick up larger baggies in the park.

 

[frizzantik]

it's already illegal to litter, and drugs are definitely illegal, yet this guy found drug baggies littering the ground. obviously more legislation is needed to control the issue

 

[EntheoDjinn]

"We need to use every measure that we possibly can to stop it because it is destroying our kids," he said

He obviously forgot that kids are more likely to suffocate on larger size plastic bags

 

[frizzantik]

from another article:

Navarro said that police would not be stopping people to search for the bags specifically.

"This would be something we would add onto the drug offense," he said.

Navarro said the ordinance would be useful for cracking down on businesses that sell the bags by the hundreds of thousands and cater specifically to the drug trade.

"We have a few businesses on our radar right now. They know what's up. They know what they're doing. This will be a very important tool for us to go after those businesses," said Navarro.

ok i can understand trying to target businesses which cater to drug dealers.. but adding a possession of plastic baggie charges onto drug charges is just chicken shit imo