BART Disables Cell Service To Disrupt Protests

1729 writes "Yesterday, in an effort to disrupt rumored protests at Bay Area Rapid Transit stations, BART officials disabled cell phone and internet access within most of the BART system by shutting down the antennas that enable reception in the underground stations."

Interesting, yet scary.

[MrEricSir]

The subway sections of BART contain special cell antennas to allow service underground -- these were recently added in the past few years.

Given this, it seems like on the one hand that the service is a privileged. It certainly didn't exist more than 5 years ago, and people got along fine without underground cell service.

On the other hand, disrupting cell service seems like a violation of free speech. It may not be necessary for free speech, but it's still a method people use to communicate.

Re:Stupid slope

[interkin3tic]

The protests are about a cop shooting a man as he was restrained on the ground. Granted, I think it's pretty clear from the video that it was an accident, but you could argue that knockout gas would be a step up from what they've already done.

Re:Stupid slope

[NiceGeek]

Incorrect. The incident you are referencing took place in Oakland, not SF and it was over two years ago. This protest was about the shooting of a guy who was brandishing a knife on the subway platform. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/07/21/bart-to-release-video-of-civic-center-shooting-on-the-web-at-3-p-m/ [kqed.org]

Won't make too much difference

[oamasood]

I take the BART every day to work (Fremont to SF). While many stations are underground, when the trains leave the stations they are above-ground and can use normal (non-BART controlled) reception. Most of the time, the BART travels above-ground, not underground. (Also, even with the underground antennas on, the reception is still terrible, so you wouldn't want to make a call anyway.) Also, the wifi sucks, i just use tethering.

Do you live/work in the Bay Area?

[Anonymous Coward]

From the BART website:
Comments and Complaints - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, 24/7 voice mail 510 464-7134

Better yet, here is the contact information for BART's Government & Community Relations folks -- drop them a note and CC your local representative:
ALAMEDA COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE
Walter Gonzales, [e-mail], [phone]
Representing the following BART stations: North Berkeley, Downtown Berkeley, Ashby, Rockridge, MacArthur, 19th Street, Oakland City Center/12th Street, West Oakland, Lake Merritt, Fruitvale, Coliseum/Oakland Airport, San Leandro, Bay Fair, Castro Valley, Dublin/Pleasanton, Hayward, South Hayward, Union City and Fremont.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE
June Garrett, [e-mail] 510-464-6257
Representing the following BART stations: Orinda, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, North Concord/Martinez, Pittsburg/Bay Point, El Cerrito Plaza, El Cerrito Del Norte and Richmond.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE
Molly Burke, [e-mail] 510-464-6172
Representing the following BART stations: Embarcadero, Montgomery St, Powell St, Civic Center, 16th Street, 24th Street, Glen Park, Balboa Park, Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco, San Bruno, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Millbrae.

LEGISLATION
Paul Fadelli, Legislative Officer, [e-mail] 510-464-6159

DEPARTMENT MANAGERS
Kerry Hamill, Department Manager of Government and Community Relations, [e-mail] 510-464-6153
Roddrick Lee, Division Manager of Local Government and Community Relations, [e-mail] 510-464-6235

ADMINISTRATION
Lisa Moland, Goverment and Community Relations Specialist, [e-mail] 510-464-7227

Mailing Address:
Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Government and Community Relations Department
300 Lakeside Drive, 18th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Fax Number: 510-464-6146

Statement from BART

[drew30319]

From TFA:

"BART’s primary purpose is to provide, safe, secure, efficient, reliable, and clean transportation services. BART accommodates expressive activities that are constitutionally protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Liberty of Speech Clause of the California Constitution (expressive activity), and has made available certain areas of its property for expressive activity.

"Paid areas of BART stations are reserved for ticketed passengers who are boarding, exiting or waiting for BART cars and trains, or for authorized BART personnel. No person shall conduct or participate in assemblies or demonstrations or engage in other expressive activities in the paid areas of BART stations, including BART cars and trains and BART station platforms."

Re:Stupid slope

[type40]

I'm a police office and we are taught to shoot to end the threat.
To use deadly force you need 3 things:
>Means: they have to have the means to cause great bodily harm or death.
>Ability: They must have the ability to cause great bodily harm or death.
>Eminence: The threat must be eminent.
If you don't have all three you don't have a deadly force situation.
If the threat is no longer eminent, ie they turn tail and run, you don't have a deadly force situation.
Being able to keep a clear head in a high stress situation and recognize if you have all three elements is the responsibility of carrying a firearm.

Shoot to kill gets you sued to.
Wait till you get on the witness stand and the lawyer for the family of the person you shot is questioning you.
"Sir is it true that you are a trained killer?"
"Is it true that when you drew your weapon you intenteded to kill the only son of my client?"
That shit looks really good in front of a jury.

Never confuse the training soldier gets with the training law enforcement gets. Just because both carry guns doesn't mean they're trained to use them the same way.