Law enforcement officials have detained a Chicago man for the use of a cell phone jammer in a train setting.
He's a silent avenger.
Last week, Dennis Nicholl, a financial analyst at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, was arrested for fulfilling a widely held wish among commuters around the world: to silence incoming cell phone calls.
The intriguing saga commenced in late 2015, as residents of Chicago experienced their mobile phones either dropping calls or lacking service entirely while aboard local trains. Nicholl was later identified as the culprit after Chicago IT professional Brian Raida posted a photograph on Reddit, showcasing Nicholl with a signal jammers in one hand and a beer can in the other. This unlawful device possesses the capability to disable cellular and radio signals throughout an entire neighborhood.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Aaron Robinson, who observed Nicholl while he was driving, commented, "I believe he found enjoyment in the sensation of controlling the car. It parallels a digital rendition of the notion, 'You young people with cell phones, keep off my lawn.'"
On March 8, a joint undercover operation by the Chicago Police Department, the Chicago Transportation Authority, and the Federal Communications Commission resulted in the capture of Nicol. He has been charged with a felony due to the jammers' potential to disrupt police radio communications and block emergency calls. As a consequence, he is facing the prospect of jail time and a fine of up to $100,000.
To the dismay of a significant number of people, residents of the Windy City are now free to engage in personal calls while they are out and about.
An online cell phone jammer retailer has aimed to exploit the New Yorkers' yearning for tranquility among subway commuters. They tweeted, "Cell service is set to be introduced at 6 #NYC #Subway stations - why not make use of a cell phone #jammer to keep conversations to a minimum?"
Pertaining to Nicol's motivations, he insists that he simply wished to travel without any interruptions.