tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post115100380945430431..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Changing pot penalties could boost enforcement, free up needed jail spaceGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151220362546381032006-06-25T02:26:00.000-05:002006-06-25T02:26:00.000-05:00The operative word is "could." Cops will still hav...The operative word is "could." Cops will still have discretion to arrest, so don't get searched an hour before shift change.<BR/><BR/>I for one like knowing our officers are hanging on to siezed pot for later personal use. Peace, Officers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151186486130900852006-06-24T17:01:00.000-05:002006-06-24T17:01:00.000-05:00As usual, great job blogging on this issue. This b...As usual, great job blogging on this issue. This bill really needs to make it through. The truth is, I don't think it's going to be our law-makers that ignore this piece of legislation in the coming years, it will be the governor's veto that stops it.Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12229025012229971535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151163284999077472006-06-24T10:34:00.000-05:002006-06-24T10:34:00.000-05:00Anoymous asked, "Given the change, what difference...Anoymous asked, "Given the change, what difference would it make?"<BR/><BR/>The difference is that a Class C misdemeanor is punishable by fine only. Therefore, low-level offenders wouldn't clog the county jails and the counties wouldn't have to pay for them to have a lawyer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151115182420499722006-06-23T21:13:00.000-05:002006-06-23T21:13:00.000-05:00Right, seize it all 'as evidence', but turn in how...Right, seize it all 'as evidence', but turn in how much? There's the problem. Where there's a way, there's a will. Giving the cops a free hand in handling drugs only encourages them to traffic in drugs.<BR/><BR/>The police in the US needed to get a handle on this as far back as 1875, but the total progress to date is zero. Obviously the cops -- all cops in every department across the country -- are dead set against accountability in drug seizures, as it would hurt their trafficking.<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, my sympathies do not lie with the drug users. I am furious at police officers who condone drug trafficking by their brother officers. They are worse than the dope dealers themselves.<BR/><BR/>There is nothing lower than a bent copper.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151095532779760872006-06-23T15:45:00.000-05:002006-06-23T15:45:00.000-05:00The idiotic comments from the previous anonymous c...The idiotic comments from the previous anonymous commentator not withstanding, I support the change. Being a police officer myself, I see first hand, the waste of time and resources on these "Mickey Mouse" possession charges, as we like to call them. It would be great to seize the stuff as evidence, issue the suspect a ticket for the class C misdemeanor and release him. The fines would be paid to the municipality or J.P. court just like a traffic ticket.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1151075595970422652006-06-23T10:13:00.000-05:002006-06-23T10:13:00.000-05:00Given the change, what difference would it make? I...Given the change, what difference would it make? If a cop arrests somebody and finds some marijuana on them, he will still charge them with possession, on top of all the other charges he can think of.<BR/><BR/>If he doesn't charge them for the marijuana, what will he do with it? He's not going to turn it in, and he's not going to report it, and he won't throw it away. He'll steal it. And sell it, or use it, or trade it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com