Police Arrest Teenager with Food on Metro

[Anonymous]

Oh and she's not a kid....she is 18...she is an adult.

[Anonymous]

She needs to stop with her attitude.

[Anonymous]

The wa post linked article says she was charged with unlawful entry.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to guess that this teenager has seen many white people on the metro, eating and drinking whatever the hell they want. She has never seen them so much as blinked at, but she is singled out for the potato chips and lollipop.

That being said - for real? Just put the food in your back pack and keep moving. To be frank, most middle class+ black folks tell their children very early on: follow the rules. It doesn't matter WHO you see breaking the rules, because when the police show up, YOU are the first person that gets arrested/detained/spoken to. This is a perfect example of that, and (I hope) she learned a hard lesson.

The transit officer DID give her a chance to actually put the food away, so she has no sympathy from me there. However, the transit officer over-reacted about potato chips.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand the reason for the arrest. I understand that food is technically not allowed on Metro, but what do we say about all the yuppies in Lulu Lemon with a Whole Foods bag? I see this as prejudicial enforcement.

There is no prohibition on bringing food onto Metro. You just can't openly consume it.

It makes me sad because systems in other cities have no such prohibitions and often sell food items within the stations. But Metro knew there were a lot of people living in DC who would just litter given the chance and not pick up after themselves. And the people who do that are not the Whole Foods shoppers.

[Anonymous]

In NYC they sell beer on the platforms.

[Anonymous]

This is just stupid.

[Anonymous]

Another stupid person who should have just complied. When will they learn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to guess that this teenager has seen many white people on the metro, eating and drinking whatever the hell they want. She has never seen them so much as blinked at, but she is singled out for the potato chips and lollipop.

That being said - for real? Just put the food in your back pack and keep moving. To be frank, most middle class+ black folks tell their children very early on: follow the rules. It doesn't matter WHO you see breaking the rules, because when the police show up, YOU are the first person that gets arrested/detained/spoken to. This is a perfect example of that, and (I hope) she learned a hard lesson.

The transit officer DID give her a chance to actually put the food away, so she has no sympathy from me there. However, the transit officer over-reacted about potato chips.

You're right- - - you are TOTALLY GUESSING!! And with racially prejudiced attitudes. Good luck with raising racially healthy kids in your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I feel so bad for that kid.

I feel bad for cops that put up with backtalk from mouthy citizens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because she was eating chips

You are taking the attitude that "offender gets to pass judgment and argue the regulations on the spot". Sorry, but isn't that a 6year old's move??!! Not the move of a law abiding citizen, but the move of an immature punk (gotta use the punk word here at her age). I wish her grandma was there to give her a wake- up slap against the head.

[Anonymous]

They are serious about the no eating thing on the metro and in the stations.

There is a infamous story of a woman feeding meat sticks to her toddler and her getting arrested for it many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember the girl who was arrested over French fries like 15 years ago.

Yep. John Roberts was on the DC Circuit Court at the time & affirmed the conviction. It ended up being a big issue at his confirmation hearings. http://dcist.com/2005/07/john_roberts_an.php

Also, don't our federal appellate court have bigger issues than a misdemeanor french fry case involving a minor? Talk about prosecuratorial overreach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to guess that this teenager has seen many white people on the metro, eating and drinking whatever the hell they want. She has never seen them so much as blinked at, but she is singled out for the potato chips and lollipop.

That being said - for real? Just put the food in your back pack and keep moving. To be frank, most middle class+ black folks tell their children very early on: follow the rules. It doesn't matter WHO you see breaking the rules, because when the police show up, YOU are the first person that gets arrested/detained/spoken to. This is a perfect example of that, and (I hope) she learned a hard lesson.

The transit officer DID give her a chance to actually put the food away, so she has no sympathy from me there. However, the transit officer over-reacted about potato chips.

You're right- - - you are TOTALLY GUESSING!! And with racially prejudiced attitudes. Good luck with raising racially healthy kids in your house.

I've asked twice to put away food in the metro. The first time I was in college and on my way to work waiting on a platform (eating somewhat messy food but don't remember exactly what). The second time was when I was 35 (was feeling sick and started eating kids' goldfish). That's twice out of the probably 5-6 times I've tried to eat on metro over the past decades. Each time, I was embarrassed, new I had done something wrong and against the rules, throughout the food immediately, and apologized. I am a white woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to guess that this teenager has seen many white people on the metro, eating and drinking whatever the hell they want. She has never seen them so much as blinked at, but she is singled out for the potato chips and lollipop.

That being said - for real? Just put the food in your back pack and keep moving. To be frank, most middle class+ black folks tell their children very early on: follow the rules. It doesn't matter WHO you see breaking the rules, because when the police show up, YOU are the first person that gets arrested/detained/spoken to. This is a perfect example of that, and (I hope) she learned a hard lesson.

The transit officer DID give her a chance to actually put the food away, so she has no sympathy from me there. However, the transit officer over-reacted about potato chips.

You're right- - - you are TOTALLY GUESSING!! And with racially prejudiced attitudes. Good luck with raising racially healthy kids in your house.

I've asked twice to put away food in the metro. The first time I was in college and on my way to work waiting on a platform (eating somewhat messy food but don't remember exactly what). The second time was when I was 35 (was feeling sick and started eating kids' goldfish). That's twice out of the probably 5-6 times I've tried to eat on metro over the past decades. Each time, I was embarrassed, new I had done something wrong and against the rules, throughout the food immediately, and apologized. I am a white woman.

I know, but SHE hasn't seen that. She lives in a completely different world than you and I do. She feels like she is being picked on/singled out unfairly, versus seeing it as she just got caught not following the rules. As I stated, just follow the rules! She had a chance to put the stuff away and got combative instead.