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A new threat to public safety has arisen in the form of non-metallic knives.  Such weapons are just as dangerous as any other knife, but they are manufactured specifically for their ability to evade metal detectors, some  blatantly marketed as "completely undetectable."   These knives present a serious risk of allowing dangerous weapons to be carried into areas restricted by metal detectors, such as courthouses and airports. 

As technology facilitates the development of new risks, we must adapt our rules and procedures to ensure the public safety of our citizens. That is why yesterday I sponsored a ban on possessing or manufacturing undetectable knives in Cook County. A similar ban on the sale or possession of such knives is currently pending at the City of Chicago.

The proposed ban does not apply to innocuous knives, such as plastic dining utensils. This ordinance was referred to the Law Enforcement Committee.

In support of the Cook County Sheriff's Office, I sponsored a proposal that will equip police officers with the proper tools to protect the public from nuisances and  potentially dangerous behavior.  The proposed ordinance outlaws offenses such as defacing cemeteries, public drunkenness and the predatory practice of committing fraud under the guise of performing spiritual acts for money. 

Police officers would be able to issue tickets for such non-violent offenses, rather than arresting people and unnecessarily clogging the court system. The administrative adjudication of public peace violations is less time-consuming for both police officers and offenders.

This ordinance was referred to the Law Enforcement Committee.