Chicago not collecting much on marijuana tickets

Chicago officials say the city has collected only 21 percent of the $310,755 in fines imposed by tickets issued for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Chicago police have issued 1,117 tickets for marijuana possession in the initial 14 months of decriminalization. Of that number, defendants were found liable in 832 or 81 percent of the 1,035 cases resolved. Of the $310,755 in penalties only $67,256 have been collected.

Alderman Danny Solis said he is so disappointed in the results that he will be meeting with police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to find ways for police officers to write more tickets.

Fraternal Order of Police President Mike Shields said the ticketing process is difficult. He said it is easier to make an arrest, or to ignore the violation.