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?
8 comments ↓
Completely extreme, since tasering can and has caused numerous deaths.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/us/16chicago.html?ei=5065&en=af8790cca1d2a05c&ex=1209009600&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print
How about people that can’t wait a freakin’ hour for a train, and risk their lives?
I fear for our population…..
Extreme? Yes. Against it? No.
If people would just do what they’re supposed to do and pay for the service they are using this would never have to happen.
Joey, So should we tase you for not capitalizing your name?
I don’t understand what capitalizing my name has to do with any of this?
This is about stealing; breaking the law — You break the law, you should get punished (period). I usually ride the max to and from work 5 days a week. I pay every time. Why is that so hard?
As mentioned in the blog post, it’s not like they’re pulling non-paying riders off the train and hitting them with the taser. It’s the people that get caught but still refuse to cooperate and accept what’s coming to ‘em.
Either way, I think of it more as a security measure than anything. I would much rather have the inspectors give someone a quick shock than have them pull out a gun, get into a fist fight, have to chase the rider down when they start running, etc…
Don’t be a crook, and you won’t be treated like one.
Because we have several issues:
1. We haven’t proven in a court of law that these people have broken the law.
2. This is a civil matter, not criminal. Nobody is directly harmed by people skirting paying their dues. Breaking rules? sure. But you broke a rule of English, and my point was you should be tased for doing so.
3. By your logic, we should be tasing people for late transactions, overdrafts, jaywalking, going the wrong way in a car on SW 3rd (which I see constantly.) If you think torture, massive pain, and possibly death is a proper response for this, I fear for our future world. In fact, you sound like you might be the next Virginia Tech killer waiting to happen.
All I ask is that people pay for the service they use. Why is that so hard?
If someone is attempting to flea after getting busted for not paying, or if the rider attempts to use force against the inspector then the inspector should without a doubt have the upper hand.
Granted the tasers may be used a bit too liberally in Vancouver according to that story. I don’t seen any reason though why they should be used within reason and with good purpose.
I’m not in any way saying that if someone gets busted solely for not paying that should be tased. If they own up to their *mistake*, cooperate with the inspectors then all is well. They get their fine, buy a transit ticket and be on their way.
indy,
What is your source for the statement that Tasers have caused numerous deaths? Do you mean to say a few people have died after being tased? That is true, but in each of those cases there were many other factors that contributed to the persons death, not just the application of a Taser. But, it’s simpler to ignore facts and make a statement like yours: Taser = Death.
If Tasers kill people, why have none of the cops who get tased during training die? That is a fact Taser detractors completely ignore. Almost all cops who carry Tasers have been subjected to the Taser and many cops have been repeatedly tased, yet none have died. Weird, huh?
Nope, not so weird. Just like the linked video showed, persons who die after being tased are usually suffering from some type of medical problem. Did you notice the hyperventilating, sweating (increased body temperature) and psychosis? Many medical doctors have theorized it is not the taser application that kills these individuals but the physical restraint that causes shortness of breath, suffocation and ultimately cardiac arrest.
Anyway, if you’re worried you might die after being tased, don’t run from the police or fight with the police, even after a minor law violation, and you’ll be just fine.
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