TriMetiquette reader Sheldon Zakreski alerted me about this news story:

In Vancouver B.C., they taser those who don’t pay fare. Ouch! I think that may be a little extreme… but hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to get your point across.

Reading the article though, it seems like the taserings (is that a word?) were done due to subjects fleeing or not obeying what officers were asking them to do. So they weren’t like:

Officer: Can you show me your fare receipt?

Man: Umm… I didn’t pay?

Officer: Well, rats off to ya! *taser*

Still, using a freakin’ taser can be argued as being a little much. I understand the need to control an out-of-control individual… but by shocking them to, sometimes, near death (or even to death), I think we can go about using another means.

What do you guys think? A little extreme or right thing to do? What if this were to happen in Portland?