Patriot Act in action...lookie here

[greenbriar]

Woman Arrested, Cuffed for Eating Candy

1 hour, 30 minutes ago Add Strange News - AP to My Yahoo!


By CANDACE SMITH, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A government scientist finishing a candy bar on her way into a subway station where eating is prohibited was arrested, handcuffed and detained for three hours by transit police.



Stephanie Willett said she was eating a PayDay bar on an escalator descending into a station July 16 when an officer warned her to finish it before entering the station. Both Willett and police agree that she nodded and put the last bit into her mouth before throwing the wrapper into a trash can.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040729/ap_on_fe_st/candy_bar_arrest_1

[ashling]

1. Remember Fawn Hall,

Ollie North's "secretary" and shredding companion -
she was arrested for eatin a bannana at a station once

[neoteric lefty]

2. Jesus crist

you can't eat, drink or curse in the station. Whats the point?

[ibegurpard]

3. obnoxious but what does it have to do with the Patriot Act?

It wasn't mentioned at all in the story. If they had used some provision of it to go after this woman then I would agree there is definite cause for concern but this just seems like garden variety nitpicky law enforcement.

[chiburb]

4. What does this have to do with the Patriot Act?

An officious cop, overreacting, an idiot. That happens every day in most cities in the US, and has been for ever.
Nice scary headline (your post), but this is Lounge material. In fact it IS in the Lounge:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1462890

[OneBlueSky]

5. somebody please 'splain to me . . .

what eating a candy bar in a subway station has to do with anything . . . and why it's banned . . .