I haven't updated my blog lately... as most of you know, I communicate with you all through commenting. I should blog more. Well, I am adding the following today because people should "know what is going on in this country" AND Cory Doctorow over at www.boingboing.net is linking here...Cory is a fantastic writer and author of a new book entitled "Little Brother" which tells the story of young people who use homebrew technology to restore their civil liberties after a police crackdown on terrorism...(that's the official logline from boingboing.net...great site, and also check out Cory's site, www.craphound.com). I emailed him earlier today and he wanted to link to the story about what happened to me on the Redline the other night...some of my friends have already heard the story:


Well last week here in Los Angeles, I was waiting to board the redline (subway) and snapped a picture with my cell phone camera. I wasn't going for a real composition...I was just putzing around, waiting for the train, holding a quizno's to-go bag. Almost immediately, a vest wearing man with METRO emblazoned on his back who had been mopping the area nearby rushed up to me and the exchange went something like this:
Him: Hey! It's against the 9-11 Law to take pictures down hear man!
Me: You mean the Patriot Act?
Him: No pictures.
Me: Could you explain? What law do you mean?
Him: You are lawyer?
Me: No.
Him: No pictures. You could be a terrorist. Very strict!
Me: How about I take a picture of you?
Him: F**k you...(I couldn't believe it either)
He then proceeded to huddle in the corner and speak into his radio. Next thing I knew, a booming female voice very loudly announced over the loudspeaker "Attention to the gentleman in the plaid shirt: You are not allowed to take photographs in the Subway. You will be arrested if you continue to take photos and harrass the metro worker."
I was incensed/surprised/embarrassed/horrified/bewildered. People started staring.
Then the voice continued: "The gentleman in the plaid shirt: You must approach the callbox near the escalators and speak to the sheriff." I didn't budge. So she said it again, this time louder...
"Okay" I thought, I'll play along...I went up to the callbox and pushed the button. A new voice this time, this one male, boomed out and said, "Why are you taking photographs sir?"
Me: "What law am I breaking?"
Voice: "You can't take pictures sir, we don't know why you are taking pictures."
Me: "Well what about the commercials I've seen filming down here?"
Voice:" They have permits sir"
Me: "Well maybe I should get a permit, but I really don't think I need one for taking a cell phone picture..."
Voice (now mockingly): Well maybe you should go and get a permit sir."
Me: "What law am I breaking, why can't you tell me? It's is NOT illegal to take a picture down here."
Voice: "It is in this station." Then silence. He hung up.

Once I got home I called the metro security number that I saw on a "We're watching, are you?" poster (shiver) inside the train and asked what the law was. The operator said she'd never heard of one, then said she didn't know for sure, then apologized for the guy cursing at me, and gave me the sheriff station...I called and spoke with a Deputy and told him what had happened and he stated that "there is no such law."

I'm wondering if any of your Los Angeles readers have had similar experiences? Being suspected of something no matter what you are doing is a real annoyance. And it's scary. What's even more annoying and scary is that the people who control the cameras and the spaces we find ourselves in on a daily basis are uniformed zealots, ready to cite laws they no nothing about and do so without check. I complained to the Metro's "Complaint Department" and didn't even hear back. The only apology I got was from the lady I spoke with that answered the security line, and she was aologizing for the fella who cursed me out...

Is this still America? Does taking pictures of the subway tunnels with a cell phone and holding a quizno's to go bag automatically place you in a suspicious category?! Am I going to be tracked everytime I get on the train from now on?! Will I get put on a "no-train list?" Give me a break!

(P.S.) The offending picture is in "mypics"