music help: Arrested for singing in the NYC subway! - Help.com

Arrested for singing in the NYC subway!

I was playing guitar and singing (no amp) on the L platform at Union Square like I’ve been doing 3x a week for a year, and I was arrested. They held me for 24 hours before I saw a judge. The judge informed me (the cops wouldn’t tell me) that I was charged with “excessive noise without a radio,” told me it sounded like a made up charge, and sent me home with no ticket, warning, community service, or anything. When I went back to the precinct to get my guitar and bag the cops had seized my carton of cigarettes calling them “perishable” and some of my money.

Playing on the subway platform without an amp is legal, right? Is it police harassment if they continue to arrest me? I make a good amount of my income playing on the subway, what should I do?

This open post was written 8 months, 3 weeks ago | V/U/S: 316, 3, 3 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post


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Since writing this post sh.hawkin may have helped people, but has not within the last 4 days. sh.hawkin is a verified member, has been around for 8 months, 3 weeks and has 4 posts and 12 replies to their name.

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civil rights, New York city, music (How Tags Affect Reciprocity)

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sillee offline Verified User (1 year, 7 months) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Undisclosed Location | 8 months, 3 weeks ago (4 minutes after post)

First, it is illegal for the police to arrest you without stating the reasons immediately, as well as stating your rights during. In some cities, you must get a permit to perform on subways whether the instrument is amped or not, but since the judge didn’t mention anything, maybe that doesn’t apply to New York?

Try researching on the internet about performing on subways in NYC, many government/municipal websites offer information on that =)

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Anonymous #
8 months, 3 weeks ago (33 minutes after post)

maybe you just aren’t very good at singing.

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sh.hawkin offline Verified User (8 months, 3 weeks) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 8 months, 3 weeks ago (45 minutes after post)

Anonymous wrote:
maybe you just aren’t very good at singing.

Well, the cops used to throw me dollar bills! Now they just cuff me.

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