Atlanta,  Police State

MARTA at it’s finest

Subway Rider Busted for Selling a Token

Transit police handcuffed and cited a man who sold a $1.75 subway token to another rider who was having trouble with a token vending machine. Transit authority spokeswoman Jocelyn Baker said Friday that the officer “acted within the law” after he spotted Donald Pirone, 42, selling the token Nov. 30 inside the West End subway station

Instead of giving Pirone a warning, the officer decided to handcuff him and give him the misdemeanor citation under a 1992 state law that bars passengers from selling Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority tokens, she said.

via the Agitator.

By all impression Marta would seem to have more employees than riders, but this is just ridiculous.

3 Comments

  • Anonymous

    Obviously both of you don’t ride Marta enough. These guys are a nuisance, and they sometimes get very aggressive. They hang out at the turnstiles in Candler Park and Inman Park all the time. They do all the “let me hep ya boss” stuff and take whatever money you’ll give them and use their pass to let you in. I don’t play the game, so sometimes they get pissy with you, and they scare people away from using the system. I’m certain that you don’t see two at a time for a reason, and it’s not mutual respect for turf. The guy who got arrested is probably not one of these guys, but that’s why they’re doing it. Good for them anyway.

  • Anonymous

    isn’t the answer to arrest the guy that’s using his pass illegally and loitering around the station? doesn’t sound hard do catch. why bother the law-abiders who as in this case just want to help a buddy out by selling him a legally-purchased token?