BART Officials Blocked Cell Phones During Transit Protest

August 12, 2011 9:19 PM

A BART officer aims his weapon at an off-camera suspect during a deadly confrontation at the Civic Center Station on July 3, 2011. (Credit: BART)

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Transit officials said Friday that they blocked cellphone reception in San Francisco train stations for three hours to disrupt planned demonstrations over a police shooting.

Officials with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, better known as BART, said they turned off electricity to cellular towers in four stations from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The move was made after BART learned that protesters planned to use mobile devices to coordinate a demonstration on train platforms.

“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 officials said in a prepared statement.

The statement noted that it’s illegal to demonstrate on the platform or aboard the trains. BART said it has set aside special areas for demonstrations.

The American Civil Liberties Union questioned the tactic.

“Shutting down access to mobile phones is the wrong response to political protests,” the ACLU’s Rebecca Farmer said in a blog post.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation said on its website that “BART officials are showing themselves to be of a mind with the former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak.” Mubarak’s regime cut Internet and cellphone services in the country for days early this year while trying to squelch protests demanding an end to his authoritarian rule.

BART officials were confident the cellphone disruptions were legal. The demonstration planned Thursday failed to develop.

“We had a commute that was safe and without disruption,” said BART spokesman Jim Allison.

The demonstrators were protesting the July 3 shooting of Charles Blair Hill by BART police who claimed Hill came at them with a knife.

A July 11 demonstration disrupted service during the rush-hour commute, prompting the closing of BART’s Civic Center station. Several arrests were made.

BART Officials Blocked Cell Phones During Transit Protest

bob322

It’s a federal offense to block cell phone transmissions. Even prisons can’t get a waiver to do that so how did BART get away with it?

Carol

I think they got away with it because in order to have cell reception you have to have special towers in the stations, and anything that is there is property of BART. BART is not required to have cell towers or repeaters in their stations, they allow them as a courtesy. Hence they can shut them off or remove them at will.

Carol

Good for BART!!!
I’m tired of people who protest something and feel they have the right to disrupt, attack and vadalize innocent people.
That is not protesting, that is a form of rioting and rioting is not protected by any laws.

Bob

Just a few corrections. It isn’t illegal to block cells.
Free speech is great unlessl it infringes on peoples safety.
You can’t yell Fire in a theater.

So now with that said, Bart was ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN SHUTTING DOWN THE CELLS. They may have prevent injuries or death.

Oh one more thing (columbo)– Bart OWNS the towers it shut. Those are not public but they are privately owned towers.

If I have a tower at my home and you come over to use it for anything I did not wantm I would shut it down immediately.,

still kicking

This is an extremely fascinating case. At what point do you have a right to stop free speech? BART decided that this would have been similar to the situation of someone screaming “fire” in a crowded theater. I tend to agree.

We have already seen examples of mobs of people descending on some location because of Internet social sites. In an environment of fast moving machinery and high electrical current you do not want people being shoved around by an uncontrolled crowd. Last year there were tragic events in both Spain and Germany involving similar situations.
liberal hater

The aclu can go to hell in abucket

freedom 4 all

thank god for them they help protect what little freedoms we have!

Jean Scott

it is a pity that the english police did not think of that it would have made a vast difference to the outcome of the riots in our cities. Maybe English police can learn something from American police

freedom 4 all

censorship one of the greatest tools of the ruling on the blind followers. I know you think right on we got em….but would u think the same if they did it to u??? I think I mean I know different!

nocrybabies

Wallfly, put down the pipe, Your an idiot.
Pat

Bravo for BART. The ACLU also supports N.A.M.B.L.A. (North American Man Boy Love Association) which believes it is okay for adult men to have sex with boys as young as 8. The ACLU can go to hell.

freedom 4 all

i agree that is bad BUT you failed to mention the good and this 1 issue does not difine the org.!

dood

I just think its scary that government uses tactics like this to control behavior.

Joshua Peabody

I think it’s remarkable that a government did something intelligent, if you want to call BART a government. I also think it’s funny because it disrupted a mob’s ability to mobilize. Quite funny indeed.

freedom 4 all

yes that’s right UNTIL they do it to you! U R crazy man crazy!

freedom 4 all

or qusi govt yes this is scary and we condem others for this but this is the gopee and tea party of NO motto Its ok for me BUT not for U! And for those who like this….I do not think they would feel the same if it happened to them….I know this was different, but who are you to decide when it is ok and when it is not????? Right get off our backs big bro and quasi big bro!!!

Here’s the truth

You are a tool. The use of cell phones are a privalige, not a right. look at your cell phone contracts. Also, if a cell tower is on your proporty, you have the right to have it shut down. That is also covered in the contract of the business and the land owner. your mother should have swallowed you than birth you.

FREEDOM 4 ALL

2 faced bastrds were we not long ago condeming others for doing the same….but that is the gopee and tea party motto it is ok for me BUT not for you! The partys of NO
Landsnekt

Ok, all you people missed this. This has the effect of blocking Cell phone communication which is a federal offense. BART has the right to ask for the towers to be removed, but not the right to shut them down when they want. Also, what happens if there was an emergency and some one needed to call 911? Now we have lives at stake. BART was WRONG to do this. More important, its part of our freedom of speech (you know, that first amendment thing), to be able to gather in public places with out fear from the government. I’m sorry it makes some you feel like this is criminal, but its part of our rights, take that away and what do we have left?
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D-san

BART was within its rights to shut down its own towers, but I’m positive that future, open-air protests about other hot-button issues will also be disrupted in the same way. When it does happen, they won’t be privately-owned cell phone towers that are shut down, but the towers that we pay to help keep in service. While I think it was the right decision to limit this protest, everyone who feels that this event was orchestrated by a “mob” should look around themselves at the next political rally they attend. This tactic is going to spread, and it’s not going to be limited to these private vs public dilemmas. It’s going to be the state shutting down things you do have a right to operate. Make no mistake, those days are coming.
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