Tue Dec 23, 2014, 08:36 PM
951-Riverside (7,234 posts)
LA Metro Ordered To Stop Arresting Riders For Using Station Outlets To Charge Phones![]() 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.
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14 replies, 2159 views
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Author | Time | Post |
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951-Riverside | Dec 2014 | OP |
petronius | Dec 2014 | #1 | |
Hassin Bin Sober | Dec 2014 | #4 | |
Kalidurga | Dec 2014 | #2 | |
Sherman A1 | Dec 2014 | #6 | |
Jacoby365 | Dec 2014 | #3 | |
Orrex | Dec 2014 | #8 | |
Jesus Malverde | Dec 2014 | #9 | |
bemildred | Dec 2014 | #10 | |
shraby | Dec 2014 | #5 | |
Sen. Walter Sobchak | Dec 2014 | #7 | |
Marrah_G | Dec 2014 | #12 | |
Scuba | Dec 2014 | #13 | |
Sen. Walter Sobchak | Dec 2014 | #14 | |
dembotoz | Dec 2014 | #11 |
Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Tue Dec 23, 2014, 08:53 PM
petronius (26,408 posts)
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... |
Response to petronius (Reply #1)
Tue Dec 23, 2014, 10:51 PM
Hassin Bin Sober (25,412 posts)
4. Charging while black would be my guess.
Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Tue Dec 23, 2014, 08:59 PM
Kalidurga (14,177 posts)
2. If it's a real problem then you do this...
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Response to Kalidurga (Reply #2)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 04:36 AM
Sherman A1 (38,958 posts)
6. Yup!
or simply take out the electrical outlets.
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Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Tue Dec 23, 2014, 09:11 PM
Jacoby365 (430 posts)
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 |
Response to Jacoby365 (Reply #3)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 09:24 AM
Orrex (62,057 posts)
8. Yeah, but in a decade, we're talking about $4.10.
So obviously it really adds up.
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Response to Orrex (Reply #8)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 09:35 AM
Jesus Malverde (10,274 posts)
9. ^^^Thread win^^^
Response to Orrex (Reply #8)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 09:40 AM
bemildred (90,061 posts)
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.
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Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 01:17 AM
shraby (21,946 posts)
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.
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Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 05:35 AM
Sen. Walter Sobchak (8,692 posts)
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.
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Response to Sen. Walter Sobchak (Reply #7)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 11:30 AM
Marrah_G (28,581 posts)
12. what is a block heater?
Response to Marrah_G (Reply #12)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 01:45 PM
Scuba (53,475 posts)
13. Warms the engine block on an automobile.
Response to Marrah_G (Reply #12)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 04:07 PM
Sen. Walter Sobchak (8,692 posts)
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. |
Response to 951-Riverside (Original post)
Wed Dec 24, 2014, 10:32 AM
dembotoz (15,611 posts)