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Metro Ordered To Stop Arresting Riders For Using Station Outlets To Charge Phones

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Mayor Eric Garcetti instructed Metro officials Tuesday to allow bus and rail riders to use electrical outlets at bus and trains stations to charge their phones after reports of people being arrested for the practice.

Three people were arrested at Metro stations this year after using the outlets to charge their phones, Metro officials said.

While the three people were stopped for electricity theft, they were eventually booked on warrants for other crimes, Metro spokesman Marc Littman said.

Garcetti, who chairs the Metro board, said he directed Metro staffers to "end the practice" of arresting people for using the outlets to charge their phones – unless it disrupts Metro's maintenance work.

"This is simply common sense," he said. "I want our law enforcement resources directed toward serious crime, not cell phone charging."

Sheriff's deputies are responsible for police Metro buses and rail lines.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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