LA Metro Ordered To Stop Arresting Riders For Using Station Outlets To Charge Phones

[951-Riverside]

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Mayor Eric Garcetti instructed Metro officials Tuesday to allow bus and rail riders to use electrical outlets at bus and trains stations to charge their phones after reports of people being arrested for the practice.

Three people were arrested at Metro stations this year after using the outlets to charge their phones, Metro officials said.

While the three people were stopped for electricity theft, they were eventually booked on warrants for other crimes, Metro spokesman Marc Littman said.

Garcetti, who chairs the Metro board, said he directed Metro staffers to “end the practice” of arresting people for using the outlets to charge their phones – unless it disrupts Metro’s maintenance work.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/12/23/metro-ordered-to-stop-arresting-riders-for-using-station-outlets-to-charge-phones/

They were arresting people for that?

It never occurred to me that a cop could walk up and arrest me for "stealing electricity" just for charging my phone in airports. Just something to keep in mind I guess.

[petronius]

1. This is a complete WAG, but given that the three people mentioned were booked for

warrants rather than the 'electricity theft,' I do wonder if the deputies were using this as an excuse to detain people rather than as a real enforcement issue.

Either way, I agree that people should not be prevented from using the plugs, or be contacted by LEOs for doing so...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Charging while black would be my guess.

[Kalidurga]

2. If it's a real problem then you do this...

[Sherman A1]

6. Yup!

or simply take out the electrical outlets.

[Jacoby365]

3. It costs $0.41 per year to charge an iPhone 5.

I'm astounded that anyone would consider arresting somebody for that.
http://lifehacker.com/5948075/how-much-energy-a-smartphone-uses-in-a-year-and-what-it-means-for-your-budget

[Orrex]

8. Yeah, but in a decade, we're talking about $4.10.

So obviously it really adds up.

[Jesus Malverde]

9. ^^^Thread win^^^

[bemildred]

10. Yep, in a billion years, that's $410,000,000, and potentially for each outlet.

This practice must be stamped out before it bankrupts us.

[shraby]

5. If people didn't pay their taxes, there would be no Metro or electricity. Since

the public provides the funds for the electricity, I would think they could use it.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

7. My dad was arrested for "theft of electricity" for plugging in a block heater back in the 60's.

He was fined $1 and ordered to pay $0.10 in restitution.

[Marrah_G]

12. what is a block heater?

[Scuba]

13. Warms the engine block on an automobile.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. It keeps your car from freezing solid in the bitter cold.

My dad's flight was cancelled due to weather so he rented a car and braved the highway only to hit a police roadblock. They told him to pull into the little strip-mall ahead because the highway wouldn't open till it was plowed. The little complex had a motel, gas station, a couple restaurants and stores.

He plugged the car in so it wouldn't freeze solid. Apparently there was a sign that said the plug-ins were for motel guests only. He claims not to have seen it or been able to differentiate between the parking for the motel and everything else. The cop who arrested him apologized profusely and said the motel manager was a nutcase and the judge would have him on his way in no time.

[dembotoz]

11. at times cops do stupid things-on own, by command-still stupid