Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Oswego trustees are looking to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in the village.
Oswego Police Chief Jeff Burgner has brought to the Village Board changes that would allow officers to issue written ordinance violations for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana and certain drug paraphernalia, rather than make an arrest.
He said these offenses became civil violations which do not require an arrest and jail time when the General Assembly amended the Cannabis Control Act.
Burgner said such offenses would be handled through ordinance violation tickets rather than through the Kendall County Court system which is a "labor-intensive process."
He said the village would also be able to collect revenues from fines of $100 to $200.
Burgner said in the past all marijuana offenses were criminal violations that required a person be arrested, booked and fingerprinted at the police station. The violator would have a class B misdemeanor arrest on his or her record.
Burgner said in 2014 and 2015 the Oswego Police Department handled 138 and 163 offenses that would apply to a civil violation. Officers have said that have been 76 instances that would apply to the lesser offense this year.
"We actually issued 13 as civil violations since the law went into effect," he said.
Trustees directed the police chief to prepare a draft ordinance.
Burgner said marijuana other than for medicinal use is illegal.
"We are not trying to take a soft side on drug possession," Burgner said.
He said the village ordinance would mirror the state statute.
"We are not recommending that we take a soft stance on drug possession and drug use. We are aligning our civil violations with ones that we already have," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Linda Girardi
Contact: 312-222-3232
Photo Credit: Matthew Staver
Website: Chicago Tribune
Oswego Police Chief Jeff Burgner has brought to the Village Board changes that would allow officers to issue written ordinance violations for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana and certain drug paraphernalia, rather than make an arrest.
He said these offenses became civil violations which do not require an arrest and jail time when the General Assembly amended the Cannabis Control Act.
Burgner said such offenses would be handled through ordinance violation tickets rather than through the Kendall County Court system which is a "labor-intensive process."
He said the village would also be able to collect revenues from fines of $100 to $200.
Burgner said in the past all marijuana offenses were criminal violations that required a person be arrested, booked and fingerprinted at the police station. The violator would have a class B misdemeanor arrest on his or her record.
Burgner said in 2014 and 2015 the Oswego Police Department handled 138 and 163 offenses that would apply to a civil violation. Officers have said that have been 76 instances that would apply to the lesser offense this year.
"We actually issued 13 as civil violations since the law went into effect," he said.
Trustees directed the police chief to prepare a draft ordinance.
Burgner said marijuana other than for medicinal use is illegal.
"We are not trying to take a soft side on drug possession," Burgner said.
He said the village ordinance would mirror the state statute.
"We are not recommending that we take a soft stance on drug possession and drug use. We are aligning our civil violations with ones that we already have," he said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Linda Girardi
Contact: 312-222-3232
Photo Credit: Matthew Staver
Website: Chicago Tribune
