Petition leader arrested

Friday, May 7, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Janine Hansen, a leader in the petition drive to repeal the $833 million tax package, was arrested Thursday night with her son while gathering signatures at the municipal bus station in Reno.

Hansen and Zachary Triggs were charged with trespassing and spent close to seven hours in jail before being released on their own recognizance. Their court date is set for May 27.

Hansen said today there were five police officers present when the arrest was made. She and her son were handcuffed and taken to the jail, she said.

Hansen said she informed officials of the Regional Transportation Commission that operates the bus service that she would be at the downtown bus station. She said they required her to sign a statement of their policy. She said she refused on grounds that state law gave her the right to gather signatures on public property.

The police told her she was on private property, Hansen said. She maintained this is public property since the transportation commission is a government agency.

Stan Peck, attorney for the Regional Transportation Commission, said it merely requested that Hansen identify who was in charge of the petition gatherers and the nature of the petitition. He said she refused.