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Bill restricting mobile service shutdowns following 2011 BART incident vetoed

A bill that would restrict local law enforcement agencies’ ability to interrupt or shutdown mobile service, written to ensure public access to 911 services and communications networks, has been vetoed by Governor Brown.

Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) introduced the measure which requires a court order for service shutdown or interruption, and has stressed the importance of service free from government involvement.

SB 1160 was written following the shutdown of mobile service by the Bay Area Rapid Transit Agency. BART shut down service in August, 2011 during protests in an effort to prevent organizers from coordinating via cell phone. Since the protest, the BART Board has adopted a policy allowing such shutdowns in specific cases, according to Padilla’s office.

“While I applaud the author’s efforts to authorize interruption of service only in the most extreme cases, the extent of the findings in the bill that must be made by officers engaged in conflict could divert attention away from resolving the conflict without further threat to public safety,” said Governor Brown in a veto message.