Arrested for Using Cell Phone Jammer on Train |
Posted: November 24, 2024 |
A man hailing from Chicago was arrested for activating a cell phone jammer while traveling on a train. A financial analyst at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, Dennis Nicholl, was arrested last week for making a dream come true for many commuters worldwide: the ability to silence cell phone calls. The compelling tale began in late 2015, when Chicago residents noticed their phones either losing connectivity or having no service while riding local trains. Nicholl was ultimately identified as the source of the issue after Brian Raida, an IT worker from Chicago, shared a Reddit post featuring a photograph of Nicholl holding a signal jammer in one hand and a beer can in the other. This illegal device can effectively disrupt cell phone and radio signals across an entire neighborhood.
Aaron Robinson, who witnessed Nicholl's driving, expressed to the Chicago Tribune, "I think he derived pleasure from the feeling of being in command of the vehicle. It’s similar to a contemporary take on the saying, 'You young people with cell phones, stay off my lawn.'" On March 8, an undercover sting operation was carried out by the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Transportation Authority, and the Federal Communications Commission, leading to the arrest of Nicol. He has been charged with a felony for employing jammers that can disable police radios and obstruct emergency calls. Nicol now faces the possibility of jail time and a fine that could amount to $100,000. The ability for Windy City residents to make personal calls while on the move has returned, much to the dismay of several individuals. A retailer of cell phone jammers operating online has sought to benefit from the New Yorkers' desire for a more peaceful subway environment. They tweeted, "Cell service is arriving at 6 #NYC #Subway stations - why not use a cell phone #jammer to reduce the chatter of others?" In relation to Nicol's objectives, he claims that his only wish was to enjoy a peaceful journey.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
