and the idiot cops in this area wonder why so many citizens--who pay their freaking wages--hate their damned guts? as for these silly Tri-Met copsters, we all know their wannabe PoPiggies...PoPigs in training if you like, but same stupid mentality. let's shine the light on these idiots and see if they scurry to get away from it? grab a light there folks and turn 'em on and start shining it...we'll be surprised what is shown in the clear glare of LIGHT!

I can tell this will work by your enlightened language.

No doubt, sucks to be him, but why do so many smokers think the world is their ashtray?

IT IS OFFENSIVE LITTERING and he's lucky he only got a temporary ban and not a ticket with fines.

Tell me this isn't profiling when the whole of downtown is an urban ashtray!

If cops wanted to, they could write offensive littering tickets their entire shift and still only get a fraction of the litterbugs...

Granted, the guy shouldn't have been smoking on the platform, but I doubt the cops would have cited and excluded him if he were not the kind of person the PBA wants out of downtown...

Uh-Oh! Sounds like the Pig Men went "oink...oink" in between their "duh..duh...duh" and now it's time for John Q & Suzy Q to make 'em squeal!

To #1-

You do realize that the Transit Police is made up of mostly Portland Police Officers don't you? They aren't "Po-Pigs" in training DUMMY!

Once again Matt proves he should get a different job. I thought headlines were supposed to reflect the content of the article. I see nothing "routine" about the police stopping someone once. And since when is giving someone a ticket for doing something illegal "harassment"?

Hmmmm! As I read these comments, I'm reminded of the admonition that the supervisory staff of PPB constantly tell the rank 'n' file that they do NOT engage in Forum Flaming in their off-duty hours and attempt to defend the PoPo on open public forums like this, as it is a self-defeating task that only draws further attention to the specious arguments made by PPB instead of rendering any meaningful defense. Therefore, YOU should pay attention to your supervisors and heed their warnings and refrain from grabbing a keyboard and typing jerk-kneed defenses as it's so obvious who is doing it and why...it's GROUPTHINK on display for all to see. Tsk! Tsk!

Where the heck does "not a GROUPTHINKER" come up with this garbage. In my time at the PPB I have never been told by anyone in any rank what I can and can't do with my own time. That includes saying anything on any forum. I challenge you to find me a policy that says I can't or shouldn't write something on a forum. You are absolutely a loon. Every time you sit down and start typing, likely from your room at the state hospital, you make little sense and come out of nowhere with your make believe "facts". And if you'll notice the text in #2, you'll see I'm not the only one who thinks your a nut.

Lets face facts, being poor in America, really is treated like a crime.

The closest thing in another culture would be INDIA'S untouchables.

America, the land that values materialism above all else, it surely makes sense that those that have not would be treated differently.

Of course its inhuman, what else is new.