Cook County Courts CELL PHONE BAN brings the politically connected big $$$$$ from their high priced storage kiosks

A crackdown on cellphones and other electronics that began Monday at the busiest criminal court facility in the country led to lines at storage kiosks and frustrated some visitors but caused no major problems, Cook County sheriff's officials said.

Visitors entering at the Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue were met by sheriff's deputies shouting from the top of the main steps that cellphones were not being allowed inside. Signs warning of the ban have been on display for months, including in the parking areas around the courthouse.

Inside the lobby security area, those who were not able to stow their smartphones, computer tablets or other electronic devices in their car were directed to two storage kiosks charging $3 each to slip the item in a plastic bag and stash it in a small locker with a sliding door.

The kiosks — each of which can hold up to 60 phones — did a brisk business but never reached capacity, said Frank Bilecki, a sheriff's office spokesman. A third machine currently on the fifth floor of the courthouse needs to be repaired but will ultimately be brought to the lobby to increase the storage slots to a total of 180, Bilecki said.

One man was turned away by security after trying to stow his phone in his shoe and walk through the metal detector, Bilecki said, but there were no arrests or complaints that any court hearings were missed.

"There were a few people where obviously it was news to them and they were not happy," Bilecki said.

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