A few questions to ask yourself whilst reading this news item... WTF was this inspector doing with a gun during work? Why werent police called to the scene - is a gun being fired on the street down low on the police priority list? And afterwards how do the police justify driving around looking for the ticketless offenders with a guy thats just fired a gun in public? And lastly, to the Rigas Satiskme press secretary is the use of a firearm unacceptable for a ticket inspector but the actual carrying of one allowed??
Whilst Im at it can I say that this morning our bus was stopped and inspected by 4 controllers. Perhaps they are resorting to safety in numbers from stone throwing passengers!
Also, Riga Transport has been in the news lately for the bus accident on Sunday which killed 3 people ( driver and 2 passengers). Seems the driver was drunk with reports of blood alcohol level being around 2.4 ml (0.24??). Apparently he had been tested at the start of his shift and was ok to drive but along the way must have been drinking hard whilst on the road.
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"Rigas satiksme" ticket inspector dismissed for using firearm
RIGA, April 27 (LETA) - Last weekend on Gogola Street, a ticket inspector for public transport company "Rigas satiksme" produced a firearm during a struggle with ticketless passengers, firing a shot into the air. For this, the ticket inspector was yesterday dismissed by the company's management.
The opinions of "Rigas satiksme" and of ticket inspector Roberts Akermanis himself over the incident differ significantly.
Akermanis told LETA that on Saturday, April 24 at around 10 p.m., on Gogola Street by the former synagogue, a conflict broke out between him and some ticketless passengers, who attacked him with stones. "To save my life, I took out my gun and fired into the air," said the inspector, adding that earlier he had worked for institutions where it had been necessary for him to own a firearm.
"We have come this far - to protect themselves, ticket inspectors have to use firearms," said Akermanis mournfully, adding that the conflict could have had an even worse ending. "The work of a ticket inspector is thankless, the salary is low, and there is no health or life insurance," complained the inspector.
According to Akermanis, the police were not called out to the scene. Later, the inspector unofficially requested the police to drive around the neighborhood, but none of the fare dodgers could be found.
The inspector indicated that the public transport company's management had borne a grudge against him ever since he had turned up uninvited at a press conference at Riga City Council.
"Rigas satiksme" press secretary Viktors Zakis told LETA that information in the company's possession indicated that the inspector had provoked the attack himself by his inappropriate behavior. Moreover, the use of a firearm in any situation was inadmissible, and so the company's board of directors had yesterday decided to dismiss Akermanis.
At the same time, "Rigas satiksme" plan to approach the State Police today with a request to investigate the incident.
At the beginning of April, Akermanis had turned up uninvited at a press conference at Riga City Council, called after a conflict between inspectors and a fare dodger, and proceeded to express his bitterness at the difficult work of the inspectors and the harsh attitude of the public towards them.
The opinions of "Rigas satiksme" and of ticket inspector Roberts Akermanis himself over the incident differ significantly.
Akermanis told LETA that on Saturday, April 24 at around 10 p.m., on Gogola Street by the former synagogue, a conflict broke out between him and some ticketless passengers, who attacked him with stones. "To save my life, I took out my gun and fired into the air," said the inspector, adding that earlier he had worked for institutions where it had been necessary for him to own a firearm.
"We have come this far - to protect themselves, ticket inspectors have to use firearms," said Akermanis mournfully, adding that the conflict could have had an even worse ending. "The work of a ticket inspector is thankless, the salary is low, and there is no health or life insurance," complained the inspector.
According to Akermanis, the police were not called out to the scene. Later, the inspector unofficially requested the police to drive around the neighborhood, but none of the fare dodgers could be found.
The inspector indicated that the public transport company's management had borne a grudge against him ever since he had turned up uninvited at a press conference at Riga City Council.
"Rigas satiksme" press secretary Viktors Zakis told LETA that information in the company's possession indicated that the inspector had provoked the attack himself by his inappropriate behavior. Moreover, the use of a firearm in any situation was inadmissible, and so the company's board of directors had yesterday decided to dismiss Akermanis.
At the same time, "Rigas satiksme" plan to approach the State Police today with a request to investigate the incident.
At the beginning of April, Akermanis had turned up uninvited at a press conference at Riga City Council, called after a conflict between inspectors and a fare dodger, and proceeded to express his bitterness at the difficult work of the inspectors and the harsh attitude of the public towards them.
