Screaming and Hitting Fellow Passengers Over Cell Phone Chatter OK'd By Court

We've all probably rolled our eyes at the loud-mouthed cell phone user in the next restaurant booth or across the bus or train aisle. While sometimes, it can be kind of amusing trying to guess which disease the cute young guy is complaining about to the person on the other line or what she said next after he was all, like, you know. But usually, the private conversation gone public is nothing more than an annoying distraction and interruption from our own thoughts, discourse and concentration.

A gruff-talking retired police officer and lawyer on a New York commuter train isn't taking it anymore. And several arrests for yelling at and even hitting or pouring coffee on passengers who are too loud and chatty isn't stopping him. This week, he was acquitted by a judge of misdemeanor charges for screaming obscenities at one such fellow passenger and hitting the hand of another woman who tried to intervene.

While we don't condone violence, you've got to admire this guy's cojones.