Posted on 12/09/2005 11:08:23 AM PST by ml/nj
ATLANTA - Transit police handcuffed and cited a man who sold a $1.75 subway token to another rider who was having trouble with a token vending machine.
Transit authority spokeswoman Jocelyn Baker said Friday that the officer "acted within the law" after he spotted Donald Pirone, 42, selling the token Nov. 30 inside the West End subway station
Instead of giving Pirone a warning, the officer decided to handcuff him and give him the misdemeanor citation under a 1992 state law that bars passengers from selling Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority tokens, she said.
"What you've got to keep in mind is that fare abuse is a chronic problem," Baker said. "It costs MARTA millions of dollars every year."
Baker acknowledged that Pirone sold the token at face value and did not make a profit. But the law is the law, she said.
"There are customer service phones for people who are having trouble getting tokens out of the machine," Baker said. "The fact is, our officer acted within the law."
As for the handcuffs, Baker said the officer felt they were necessary.
"Our officers do that for their own safety," Baker said.
There was no answer Friday at a phone listed to a Donald V. Pirone in Atlanta. Pirone told WSB Radio that he was just trying to help a fellow passenger out who was having trouble with a token machine.
"I gave him a token and, I guess out of his generosity, he gave me the money for it," Pirone said. "But I didn't ask him for money."
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
What was the picture of? I couldn't see it?
No good deed.....
3 questions. Is the $1.75 the cost of a token or the amount paid for it?
Was a "profit" made on the "sale"?
Don't the Police have anything better to do?
"But the law is the law, she said"
two four six oh ONE!!!!
C'mon, "Jo Vare". Lighten up with the " I am the law and the law is not mocked" crap.
it always gets back to the french thing.
I still couldn't see it....somthing about a donkey...thanks for trying anyway!
-PJ
That fairly well explains why bogus token sales ought to be a concern. One would think the authorities would be looking for situations where tokens are stolen by MTA employees in stead of harassing someone who has no need of a single token. Good gawd.
"We are watching the dawn of the US Police State."
Which will soon bring on the 2nd American Revolution.
Keep your powder dry.
I'm thinking that they hope that some tokens go unused.
Never mind. just saw it was sold at "face value". dolts
"Now they are the worst and dumbest"
They have also become jackbooted thugs, more interested in
power then service to the public.
Civilians must not interfere in union business.
It had to be more than one. Apparently the handcuffer has a defender in Transit authority spokeswoman Jocelyn Baker, who you can be sure is not acting own her own accord.
Knee-jerk defense of police, becasue some were killed on 9/11 doens't cut it. All of the people who are involded with this action should be fired.
ML/NJ
What a sad excuse for mental process.
I called the cop a jackass so I am not knee-jerk defending them. The idiot cops should be disciplined or sued or worse.
The police become more out of control with each passing day. They used to be our friends and neighbors. They used to be the best and brightest. Now they are the worst and dumbest. They have long ago ceased to be our friends.
But to label all police as bad and dumb is irresponsible and just plain stupid on your part.
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