Getting arrested by the Transit Police

[Hack&Lube]

So I come to work to find out my co-worker was arrested by the Transit Police. I didn't even know they could do that. I'm just wondering what they would arrest somebody for. I know this particular person is currently going through traffic court and trying to fight a fine for taking the C-Train without a pass. She really did have a transfer but it blew away from her walking from the bus to the train. She vowed that she wouldn't be paying a dime to take the transit from then on in retaliation which I advised wasn't really a smart thing to do but she still does it.

Would they arrest somebody for not having a ticket twice? Do the transit cops have a list they carry around? This person is recently arrived from the U.S. and I'm worried she might have been beligerent or something because she has a very...American attitude about fighting with the police and claiming racial prejudice, etc. due to her experiences there and doesn't really realize that it's not quite the same here.

[Russic]

Was this by chance near Heritage this morning? I noticed they had actual transit paddywagons outside the station and it looked they were arresting somebody. I even said to myself "this can't be right ... the don't arrest people". I guess CP teaches you something every day.

I have known somebody to get multiple transit tickets so I question if that was it. Being belligerent on the other hand could totally get you nailed. I figured they'd just call in the actual police, but I guess they don't have to.

[Locke]

I dont think C-Pigs can arrest anyone. Where would they detain them? They might be able to hold someone until the real cops come, but thats about it. Even then...its a C-Train violation, I figure you get a ticket and thats that.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

So I come to work to find out my co-worker was arrested by the Transit Police. I didn't even know they could do that. I'm just wondering what they would arrest somebody for. I know this particular person is currently going through traffic court and trying to fight a fine for taking the C-Train without a pass. She really did have a transfer but it blew away from her walking from the bus to the train. She vowed that she wouldn't be paying a dime to take the transit from then on in retaliation which I advised wasn't really a smart thing to do but she still does it.

Would they arrest somebody for not having a ticket twice? Do the transit cops have a list they carry around? This person is recently arrived from the U.S. and I'm worried she might have been beligerent or something because she has a very...American attitude about fighting with the police and claiming racial prejudice, etc. due to her experiences there and doesn't really realize that it's not quite the same here.

I didn't know that either. I thought you'd just get multiple tickets like speeding. But it might have to do with her attitude in court?

Her argument is stupid. If you have a transfer and it blew away then that sucks. What next, Flames let people into the Saddledome without tickets?

[Russic]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I didn't know that either. I thought you'd just get multiple tickets like speeding. But it might have to do with her attitude in court?

Her argument is stupid. If you have a transfer and it blew away then that sucks. What next, Flames let people into the Saddledome without tickets?

Exactly, it's your responsibility to hold on to your transfer. How you can get mad at anybody but yourself is pretty strange.

[Jayems]

They're special constables, IIRC, and can arrest on transit property.

[cyclone3483]

don't know, just guessing here:

I would think they might have a paddy wagon to temporarily detain someone away from the platform (safer for bystanders). Also, I would think that they would only use it when someone was getting physical, refusing the ticket, disobey the transit cops, etc. I doubt they'd keep a list of repeat offenders, but if she wasn't cooperating, they'd have to escalate things.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Russic

Exactly, it's your responsibility to hold on to your transfer. How you can get mad at anybody but yourself is pretty strange.

You've met people like this. They blame everyone else all the time.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Russic

Was this by chance near Heritage this morning? I noticed they had actual transit paddywagons outside the station and it looked they were arresting somebody. I even said to myself "this can't be right ... the don't arrest people". I guess CP teaches you something every day.

I have known somebody to get multiple transit tickets so I question if that was it. Being belligerent on the other hand could totally get you nailed. I figured they'd just call in the actual police, but I guess they don't have to.

Calgary is turning into fascist state, when the mayor went looking for his own private army he decided to turn the transit cops into his personal Gestapo on the premise that no one would notice until they were being thrown into one of those fairly benign looking paddy wagons.

Are they packing heat now too? Tasers?

Where do they even get these paddy wagons? Where do they keep them? How often could they possibly be needed?

Its light rail transit for Christ's sake, I know people can get a little testy on their morning commute but its not like its complete anarchy out there Mad Max style. Is there a Calgary Transit Thunderdome? Is that where this lady is right now? Where is it?

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You've met people like this. They blame everyone else all the time.

In other words, they're Oiler fans?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Russic

Exactly, it's your responsibility to hold on to your transfer. How you can get mad at anybody but yourself is pretty strange.

It's not so much the ticket but she basically is livid and claims she was singled out due to racial prejudice/profiling etc. It's the very American attitude and preconception about things again. Having experienced racism myself, I know how it can taint perceptions but there's a point where you have to realize you can't always point fingers at others.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

You've met people like this. They blame everyone else all the time.

Clearly the cops are at fault for her getting caught,

And the transit driver is at fault for not trying to outrun the cops,

And the paper manufacturer for the transfer is at fault because it wasn't heavy enough to withstand the wind,

And obviously God is at fault for causing the wind in the first place.

This lady totally got a raw deal and should be able to ride transit for free for life...and they should pay her mortgage too.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Locke

... Is there a Calgary Transit Thunderdome? ...

No, but there is a Saddledome. And Tina has played there.

[CaptainCrunch]

Did they take her to the back of the LRT station and beat her up with ticket books wrapped in phone books (less bruising that way)?

Your friend probably did get stupid, its the only reason why they would remove her.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

It's not so much the ticket but she basically is livid and claims she was singled out due to racial prejudice/profiling etc. It's the very American attitude and preconception about things again. Having experienced racism myself, I know how it can taint perceptions but there's a point where you have to realize you can't always point fingers at others.

Racial profiling? In Canada? If anything, the transit cop-wannabes will single out attractive females in hopes of impressing them with their 'uniforms' and getting contact information off the ticket.

Stalker nation!

She should be flattered.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by cyclone3483

Racial profiling? In Canada? If anything, the transit cop-wannabes will single out attractive females in hopes of impressing them with their 'uniforms' and getting contact information off the ticket.

Stalker nation!

She should be flattered.

I think it's because she was the only african american woman on the platform and she said they walked right to her and asked to see her ticket. They usually just canvas on the train and check everybody but she claims the picked her out on the platform. Now she thinks Calgary is like the deep south of Canada (which the rest of Canada thinks anyway).

[Cscutch]

I have seen them arrest people in the past. Mostly drunks sleeping in the stations, but have seen it when people refuse to show ID or become violent towards them. Once they are arrested they would be transported to the Calgary Police Service Arrest Processing unit.

[Wookie]

Does she nag a lot too? Is she totally a nagger?

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I think it's because she was the only african american woman on the platform and she said they walked right to her and asked to see her ticket. They usually just canvas on the train and check everybody but she claims the picked her out on the platform. Now she thinks Calgary is like the deep south of Canada (which the rest of Canada thinks anyway).

No idea, we weren't there. But I have been told that part of their training is also to pick up on cues that might indicate a guilty conscience (looking at the cops, then away or turning away...moving away from them...etc.). If they saw those cues, they might have headed straight for her. So maybe not so much racial profiling, but body language profiling.

IF they were racial profiling, I'd have a big problem with it.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by Wookie

Does she nag a lot too? Is she totally a nagger?

Watch it. Be careful not to cross lines just to make a funny.

I've adopted two kids from Haiti.