Tired New Yorkers beware: Putting your feet up on a subway seat during a late-night train ride can land you behind bars.
The New York Times reports that police arrested 1,600 people last year for violating a 7-year-old law that makes it a crime to put your feet up on the subway or sprawl out over more than one seat, even if the train is empty.
Another 6,000 people escaped arrest but got hit with a $50 fine.
The practice of tossing people in jail for an etiquette infraction has outraged some lawyers, who say it is overly harsh.
Local
Police Department spokesman Paul Browne says rigorous enforcement makes the subway system safer.
He says many of those subway rule-breakers turn out to be wanted felons.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
