Stuck on a SkyTrain? Touch a door and transit cops will bust your ass

Remember when impatient and stranded transit passengers forced open SkyTrain doors last month during some lengthy shutdowns?

They jumped down and walked along the guideways to the nearest stations in several instances.

If it happens again, though, you may want to resist the temptation to get to work or home a little quicker: transit police might be waiting to write you $230 worth of tickets.

We're not sure why anyone would want to reenact the trestle scene from Stand By Me in the first place. Why take a chance of slipping onto a 600-volt power rail and ending up like the dead guy those movie kids were looking for?

In a news release today (August 11), Metro Vancouver Transit Police warned that because of recent incidents where passengers have forced doors open "and entered the guideway after a delay of only a few seconds on isolated trains....every incident of this nature will be investigated".

The release goes on to state that offenders "may be ticketed under two provincial violations:

Interfere with the operation of a transit vehicle $115.00 

Prevent or delay the closing of a transit vehicle door $115.00".

Furthermore, if it is a repeat offence or it is determined that there was a "serious threat to public safety" or the culprit(s) caused "significant damage", a criminal charge of public mischief could be tacked on.

Oh, yeah, and they want you to rat out anyone you see doing this.

Comments

17 Comments

Kiskatinawkid

Aug 12, 2014 at 7:54am

Quite the outfit, our Translink. Waste tons of money on useless shit, like transit cops, but don't spend it on keeping the system operating properly. No wonder people refuse to give up driving!

david taylor

Aug 12, 2014 at 8:37am

Maybe people should take something to work that doesnt break down, isnt run by computer, and doesnt lock you up when it stalls.

Its called a car.

Anthony Martin

Aug 12, 2014 at 9:18am

Wouldn't common sense point you to remain in a safe location instead of trying to navigate a dangerous electrified area? There is communication inside every train car. Don't be stupid ! This is not Siberia. It may take time for help to arrive but rather that than toast yourself on high voltage or slip off the tracks. Use your phone to send an emergency message, surely most riders have a cell phone. Real responsible human beings are monitoring the system not monkeys.

Bruno

Aug 12, 2014 at 9:43am

The transit police can kiss my ass... a combination of claustrophobia and heat would have me out of those doors in no time. Plus, when the train is down the power to the rails is off. Maybe if we had something besides the half-assed, uncomfortable 'trains' we have now, this wouldn't be a problem.

Volt

Aug 12, 2014 at 9:43am

I read somewhere that the reason the whole system was shut down (not just a few isolated sections) was because people were forcing the doors and walking on the tracks. They had to shut down the power everywhere for safety reasons.
If that's true, then the actions of a few people caused a huge delay for everyone. (If it's true.)

Christine

Aug 12, 2014 at 10:09am

Is this seriously what passes for journalism these days? using phrases like "bust your ass" and "rat out"?
My how far we've fallen from well crafted writing to short-hand slang-filled drivel.

ridiculous

Aug 12, 2014 at 11:07am

yes, the trains stop and then start again after a few minutes but people have been stung with much longer shutdowns. don't blame the people for setting themselves free. the doors & evacuation should happen after a set time, what is reasonable? 15 minutes? half an hour? an hour?? you can bet your ass i'll be breaking out after 15 minutes. it's illegal to hold people hostage and that's exactly what transtink is doing to people locked up in their cars. disgraceful!

Martin Dunphy

Aug 12, 2014 at 11:09am

Christine:

Sorry, I've only been speaking Blog for a few years.

Bruno: "when the train is down the power to the rails is off." Didn't <em>Jurassic Park</em> teach you anything?

MD

Aug 12, 2014 at 11:56am

david taylor
"Maybe people should take something to work that doesnt break down, isnt run by computer, and doesnt lock you up when it stalls.

Its called a car."

I really hope you are being sarcastic

Cars don't break down?

Then there are a lot of mechanics and tow companies losing lots of money by operating their businesses.

Cars are not run by computers?

Unless your car is/was thirty years old and up, yeah, they do. There isn't a gnome doing fuel/air mix ratio calculations for differing engine loads under your hood operating your electronic fuel injectors.

Cars don't "lock you up" when they stall ?

Apparently you have never tried using power steering, power windows, or power door locks when you have lost all electrical power.

Misaki

Aug 12, 2014 at 12:12pm

Sociopaths who like to make other people miserable are opening the doors and this is news?