A proposal to ticket individuals for possession of marijuana instead of arresting them may save time and tax dollars, but the fines imposed should be hefty enough to ensure the violation is taken more seriously than a traffic ticket.

Chicago Police sergeant Tom Donegan, who was tired of making arrests for small amounts of marijuana only to see the cases thrown out in court, drew up a proposal outlining why fines should replace arrests. Top city officials are reviewing the plan.

Donegan said court records from 2003 show that 94 percent of marijuana cases involving possession of less than 2.5 grams were dropped, as were 81 percent of cases involving 2.5 to 10 grams. Even larger amounts of marijuana were not enough to ensure the offender would be prosecuted – 52 percent of cases involving 10 to 30 grams were also dropped.

Dismissed charges equal time wasted by police officers, attorneys and judges and money wasted on court proceedings. By implementing fines instead of dragging offenders to court, possession violations – which numbered 6,954 in Chicago in 2003 – wouldn’t eat up time and tax dollars.

In fact, the plan would raise revenue for the city of Chicago. Under Donegan’s proposal, possession of up to 10 grams would carry a $250 fine; 10 to 20 grams, a $500 fine; and 20 to 30 grams, a $1,000 fine.

Donegan estimated that even issuing fines only for possession of 10 grams or less – at $250 per violation – would have raised $5 million in 2003.

While the plan is a good way to raise money for the city, likening possession of marijuana to a traffic violation may downplay the seriousness of the charge. Possession should be punished more harshly than a speeding ticket, and Chicago Police need to make that clear by imposing larger fines across the board.

A fine of $500 or $1,000 per violation – even for possession of less than 10 grams – hardly can be considered a slap on the wrist. And it certainly puts a $75 speeding ticket to shame.