What the... Chicago may ban Ziploc baggies due to association with drugs

[Pred]

I'm at a lose for words....

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 :: Metro & Tri-State

[Coeloptera]

Heh heh...haahahahahahaaaa!

They've so lost and they don't even know it.

Drugs 1
Government 0

- Coeloptera

[Big Tool]

Just ridicolous. I guess clothes are next. People would have alot of trouble smuggling drugs if they were bare backed all the time.

[TXplt]

Absolutely brilliant............target the inatimate object not the crime...........if this keeps up Chicago will have nothing left to buy or sell........

Now I know all you folks are the right kind of parents....I'm going to be perfectly frank...

Mothers of River City heed that warning before it's too late....watch for the tell tale signs of corruption.

What a bunch of buffoons.

[BaserRonin]

I have a solution to getting around that. Buy your drugs in bigger quantities and don't worry about getting fined or arrested for having a little plastic bag on your person. Plus, the bulk discount alone will save the crack-heads a fortune, probably enough to get them off the street and into a decent home! See, this is going to solve two problems for the price of one! Genius, Genius I say!

/Sarcasm off

[Lng Rng]

Well, it seems the city of Chicago is going to stump the drug dealers, once and for all. I am sure those who chose to deal drugs are scared of the harsh prison sentence that comes along with putting your crack inside of those illegal zip-lock bags.

Somehow, I doubt this will pass. I don't know how a law this stupid is even enforceable. Maybe I am underestimating their stupidity.

I do have a question though. Are little plastic bags, without the ability to zip shut going to be illegal also? Those could surley be used to sell drugs also.

[TXplt]

Originally Posted by Lng Rng

Well, it seems the city of Chicago is going to stump the drug dealers, once and for all. I am sure those who chose to deal drugs are scared of the harsh prison sentence that comes along with putting your crack inside of those illegal zip-lock bags.

Somehow, I doubt this will pass. I don't know how a law this stupid is even enforceable. Maybe I am underestimating their stupidity.

I do have a question though. Are little plastic bags, without the ability to zip shut going to be illegal also? Those could surley be used to sell drugs also.

No, non-self sealing and quart size ziplock bags and up will only have to be registered with the State Police. This is "reasonable" ziplock control. The larger bags have a sporting and culinary purpose.

[A-10]

They had better ban film canisters while they're at it and pants pockets and book bags and cars.

[BaserRonin]

TXplt: Oh, you mean they use the bigger ones? not just the gang-bangers? Well that explains why vehicles that can carry more then 5 people haven't been outlawed yet.

[NRAJOE]

When Ziplocs are outlawed only outlaws will have Ziplocs!

Dang, what am I gonnaa keep my weed and pills in now?

[TXplt]

I have a great plan: We could stamp a unique serial # on each of the ziplock bags and record this along with the customer's ID at the supermarket when they buy a box. Then, when we found drugs in one, we could trace it directly back to the ziploc buyer. We could also make it a crime not to report when a box of ziplocs is lost or stolen.

This idea is infallable !!!!

[JOEGUN94]

last week it was guns, what next with those idiots. baby bottles lead to beer bottles!!!
how about the people learn to be a parent in life, step up to the plate aunts and uncles. big brothers, sisters, are gone.

[Cyrano]

Originally Posted by JOEGUN94

last week it was guns, what next with those idiots. baby bottles lead to beer bottles!!!
how about the people learn to be a parent in life, step up to the plate aunts and uncles. big brothers, sisters, are gone.

"I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon,
Then beer from a bottle!
An' the next thing ya know,
Your son is playin' for money in a pinch-back suit.
And listenin' to some big out of town jasper,
Hearin' him tell about horse-race gamblin'.
Not a wholesome trottin' race, no,
But a race where they set down right on the horse!
Like to see some stuck-up jockey-boy sittin' on Dan Patch?
Make your blood boil? Well, I should say!"

Thank you, Meredith Wilson. Can you say the wrong side of absurd? Trying to ban those teeny-tiny ziplocs won't do a thing. The worst possible case would be that the dealers start selling their junk in folded and taped regular size baggies, or maybe folded up in papers like they did a century ago with cocaine, or in tiny glas or plastic vials, or in oversize gelatin capsules or something.

It's just as moronic as trying to stop gun crime by banning honest people from owning guns, but it makes the asshats in city government look like they are doing something. The fact what they want to do won't make one damned bit of difference to solving their problem is entirely beside the point, It's the appearance of their doing something that matters to politicians.

[squirrelbaster]

let them ban baggys aslong as they leave my guns alone!

[ArkansasHunter]

I wonder if they'll BAN cans and bottles next so people can't drink Alcohol ? LOL !!!

[BaserRonin]

Jeez I hope not Arkansas! That would be personally disastrous, I haven't got nearly enough room to move from bottles to Keg shells!

[BlastMagnet]

When will the fun ever stop.... absolutly stupid. Bags?

[Midas]

Sounds like they are experimenting with dictatorship, up there in Chi-town

[DWARREN123]

Just how stupid are these folks? Baggies have nothing to do with the drug problem, such idiots!

[troy2000]

Originally Posted by DWARREN123

Just how stupid are these folks? Baggies have nothing to do with the drug problem, such idiots!

Mini-Ziplocs may not cause the drug problem, but they're certainly associated with it. Go into any head shop that caters to the drug crowd, and you'll find them for sale. You'll also find them behind the counter in liquor stores and convenience stores in any poor, drug-ridden part of a major city.

I doubt making them against the law will do any good. But frankly, I'm a little disgusted at the store owners who help dealers service crackheads, just so they can make an extra buck or two.