Posted on 08/12/2011 3:31:28 PM PDT by SmithL
BART officials acknowledged this afternoon that they shut down cell phone and wireless data service in its downtown San Francisco stations to disrupt a planned protest. Their announcement sparked denunciations from civil libertarians and the apparent threat of a cyber-attack on the BART website.
A statement posted on the transit agency's website said the communications blackout was ordered in the interest of public safety:
"Organizers planning to disrupt BART service on August 11, 2011 stated they would use mobile devices to coordinate their disruptive activities and communicate about the location and number of BART Police," the statement reads.
"A civil disturbance during commute times at busy downtown San Francisco stations could lead to platform overcrowding and unsafe conditions for BART customers, employees and demonstrators. BART temporarily interrupted service at select BART stations as one of many tactics to ensure the safety of everyone on the platform."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
It’s OK....
San Fransisco is run by DEMOCRATS, nothing to see hear.
However, if a REPUBLICAN had done something like this, you’d be hearing the screams of “FASCIST!!” all weekend.
A violation of civil riots!!???
And what if someone had an emergency? You know, murder, rape, robbery, medical, those sorts of PUBLIC SAFETY issues.
Friggin idiots!
Thanks for posting. I was going to, but I got busy cooking and forgot.
I don’t think what they did was such a bad thing. It might cut down on flash mobs, or make it more difficult for them to get together and wreak havoc.
Some people were so upset by this. It’s like they think cell phone service is a basic human right or something.
I guess they'd just do whatever used to be done before anyone ever had cell phones, right?
What everyone has missed so far, cell phones are easily jammed or the cell towers simply cut off. BART can do it on a whim, the UK could have as well, if they so desired.
Why don’t they just track the people instigating the flash mobs, and collect the evidence.
>And what if someone had an emergency? You know, murder, rape, robbery, medical, those sorts of PUBLIC SAFETY issues.<
That was my first thought when I heard about this, but there was a very heavy police presence in the area where they shut off service.
I wouldn’t like this if there weren’t any extra law enforcement in the neighborhood at the time.
That would be profiling./
What about Freedom of Assembly?
A year and a half ago BART didn’t even have cellphone service, so shuddup ACLU fans.
I would walk up to the nearest BART officer and ask for assistance. Then again, I don't rely on my phone for much....it can drop out or be turned off at the whim of any government official.
But what if someone was trying to call YOU?
Some people were so upset by this. It’s like they think cell phone service is a basic human right or something.”
Last time I looked it was a SERVICE we PAY for. When that is uninterrupted intentionally, for no reason, it is called theft.
Did you leave off the /s or do you really think that companies have the right to change TOS at their pleasure?
Worse yet, what if I can’t Tweet?
LOL!
(disclaimer-I have never tweeted in my life)
Let's just ban cell phones altogether, problem solved.
You can program the cell tower to only allow 911 calls. Course now if the pudding stirrers decide to use two way radios that might get interesting.
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