A day after flood waters shut down a metrorail operations room, a week after it admitted it was running out of electronic farecards and a month it was attacked for reducing late-night subway service to two-car trains all while increasing fares, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority seems to continue to anger riders. It is now arresting violaters of its no food and drink regulations. 
The Post reports that Metro Transit Police detained an Environmental Protection Agency scientist for eating a Pay Day candy bar on the way down to the Metro Center metrorail station downtown.
DCist understands that WMATA is reacting to mounting criticism of an increasingly trashed transit system, but it seems that when it takes action, it ends up being a public relations mess. Don’t forget WMATA arrested a 12- year-old girl for eating a single french fry at the Tenleytown station in 2000.
A friend of DCist was caught at L’Enfant Plaza last month sipping from a Starbucks coffee and was fined $10. He notes it is easier paying the fine than fighting the ticket in court.
