HOUSE CRACKS DOWN ON THEFTS OF SEIZED DRUGS

The Illinois House voted unanimously Friday to steepen penalties for
stealing from a police evidence lockup, responding in part to a
Chicago police audit showing millions of dollars in illegal drugs were
unaccounted for.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would make it a class X felony
to steal firearms, money or drugs from evidence storage.

A 1996 audit of the Chicago Police Department's evidence
lockup--conducted after a civilian worker was caught stealing
narcotics--documented almost 50 instances of marijuana, cocaine, or
heroin missing from the lockup. The report listed the street value of
the missing drugs at $6,813,741.

A Chicago police spokesman said the department is "very confident that
a majority" of the missing drugs were destroyed, but were unaccounted
for because of "sloppy record keeping" that has since been rectified.

But at least one lawmaker said the audit illustrates the need for
tougher penalties.

"This shows that [theft] happens, and that the instances of this are
very real," said Rep. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), sponsor of the bill.
"It sounds like they're confident, but I don't know that they have any
kind of certainty there."

While supporting the stiffer penalties, Chicago police officials
maintain that evidence lockup theft occurs rarely. No one has been
charged since the audit.

"When an individual decides to go that route, from our perspective, a
stiff penalty works out very well," police spokesman Pat Camden said.

In other action Friday, the Illinois Senate moved to crack down on
train operators who repeatedly block railroad crossings.

Complaining that train operators in Harvey and Riverdale "are using
the crossings as a parking lot," Sen. William Shaw (D-Dolton) said
trains prevent emergency vehicles from responding quickly.

The measure makes it a misdemeanor to chronically obstruct railroad
crossings. Only supervisors would be charged.

The Senate also voted to let school buses carry public safety
ads.

Critics fear advertising will make the buses unrecognizable and will
jeopardize the safety of students. Supporters, including the Chicago
public school system, say CTA and Pace buses have operated as "moving
billboards" without causing accidents.

Sen. Robert Molaro (D-Chicago) said the measure puts the decision in
the hands of local school boards, and lets them raise money without
raising taxes.

"If they don't feel it's safe, if they feel it's too commercial, they
say no," Molaro said.