At approximately 5:15 pm on February 5th 2005, I was taking photographs on the west end of the railway platform at Montgomery Station in San Francisco. I was approached by two Municipal Railway Fare Inspectors bearing badges #8 and #29. #8 told me that taking photographs underground was not allowed. I asked what law she was referring to. She said, "Since 9/11, photographs underground in Muni Stations are not allowed." I repeated my question, "Tell me what law you are referring to and I'll stop." # 8 offered the same answer. #29 then stated, "If you take another photograph I will cite you." I asked them both “Under what law -- Federal, State, Municipal Code or otherwise – would I be cited?” #8 informed me that it was a "Muni Law". I advised them that if I was breaking the law that I would like to be cited. #29 requested my identification, upon which I proffered my California Drivers License. He requested that I follow him upstairs, which I willingly did.

Upstairs, Steve reports that the SFPD and BART police were called in, and together the three agencies looked for a statute banning photography but couldn't find one. That's when it got even creepier:

After walking over to the group of Fare Inspectors and BART Police Officers, Officer Ryan returned to speak to me. He expressed his frustration at the situation and me by saying: "Would it have been so difficult for you to just stop taking photographs when these guys told you to stop? If you weren't on your soapbox, I'd be out fighting real crime rather than standing around here dealing with you." He expounded further, "Even if there is no law forbidding photography in the MUNI System, the Fare Inspectors have the right to refuse you service for any reason they choose, including taking photographs. Once they refuse you service they can swear out a citizens arrest for trespassing. I, or other officers, will book you and you'll spend the rest of your weekend in jail. It won't be for taking photographs, so your weekend would be ruined yet you'd never get a chance to argue the matter of taking photographs before a judge."