BART disables cell service to disrupt expected demonstrations

Breitbart: SF cell shutdown: Safety issue, or hint of Orwell?

San Francisco's BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) system disabled cell phone service to disrupt expect demonstration in response to the shooting of a 45-year-old man by their transit police.

The transit police claim it was for "safety" -- they're ones responsible the shooting that incited the protest:

 

I'm not quite sure how this was done. Was it legal? (I realize that "legality" is a quaint concept these days). Is it possible this could be used on a broader scale?

 

a friend sent me a link about this on Facebook last night.

Apparently, Anonymous are planning a demonstration on the 15th about it.

 

The BART police thought they were in for a demonstration before, and now they've created an international incident with Anonymous threatening action. Geniuses. Seems they failed to get clearance too:
http://www.baycitizen.org/bart-police-shooting/story/bart-director-cell-phone-shutdown-didnt/
Same refrain we hear a lot: 'we were within our legal right.' But at least one BART Board member sees a problem with it:

The BART police have an unfortunate habit of shooting live rounds instead of tasers at suspects, and it is not clear what threat the late Mr. Hill even posed.

 

Probably accomplished by cutting the power to the repeaters that were on their property.

They claim it was legal because the repeaters were on BART property, but I see a number of issues:

(1) Violation of 1st amendment protections by a public agency
(2) Interference with federally licensed communications
(3) Breech of contract & torious interference with respect to the wireless carriers

This was probably the result of law enforcement mentalities making stupid decisions and letting others do their thinking for them afterwards. This is no different than blocking photography in an airport or train station, except that it was done as blanket action on a larger scale.

 

Tasers kill people, too. There are hundreds of deaths associated with tasers.

 

And not good for use by those so poorly trained and practiced with weapons.
http://www.baycitizen.org/bart-police-shooting/story/bart-director-cell-phone-shutdown-didnt/
The Bay Citizen coverage is quite good.

 

My hunch that it "probably the result of law enforcement mentalities making stupid decisions and letting others do their thinking for them afterwards" appears to be correct:

If anyone has some tar & feathers handy, this moron (Linton Johnson) could use a makeover:

 

I'm seeing a new career in the future for Linton, and not with BART...

 

It goes beyond just one fool however. Looks to me like the idea of "security" is leading to the loss of 1st amendment rights as well as 4th Amendment rights. From the linked article:

 

You're not alone in that assessment. Anonymous has hacked both BART and a CA agency office which probably is tied to checkpoint stops for drunk driving:

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/132ef)
http://www.californiaavoid.org/

 

Well, I don't agree with retaliatory attacks. The courts are still open and there's still a long way to go before Herr Minister Pistole and the rest of the zombies can take over the country.

 

The fools are being spanked.

But the BART cop is back. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bart-anonymous-protest-20110816,0,1387890.story
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscent...stay_on_but_protesters_disrupt_sf_subway.html

http://www.baycitizen.org/bart-police-shooting/story/bart-protest-shuts-down-4-stations-rush/ with photos

 

Yes, Brian, sometimes civil disobedience is very inconvenient. That's intentional. Tough noogies.

 

On the brighter side, I'd rather have the cell phone reception turned off than one of the choo choo police come up and shoot me Taser me while I was talking on my cell phone.

 

And I'd pay more just to not listen to cell phone conversations.
Monday the BART police were using batons, for shoving it appeared. http://www.baycitizen.org/bart-police-shooting/story/bart-protest-shuts-down-4-stations-rush/ with photos and videos
I don't mean to make light of lethal force; like many, I don't think these folks are well enough trained to be armed. The only reason not to disband them in SF is that the "real" cops would be racking up obscene amounts of OT to do the same job, (but that's a whole other kettle').

 

Interestingly it wasn't the protestors who inconvenienced riders but the overreaction again of BART. Monday they cut physical access to the stations instead of cell service: a draconian act that disrupted who knows how many commuters and tourists in another pre-emptive security measure.

 

Update this evening ...

AP: Transit agency head defends cell service shut-off

Is BART's board & administration elected or appointed by intermediaries? These people need to be out on the street.

 

What is it with petty bureaucrats and not thinking through with their actions? Ties too tight? Correction fluid fumes? Common office chemicals mixing together to form mental incapacitation gasses? Hanging around with other terminally stupid people?

 

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