Metro cracking down on fare evasion through new DC crime law
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The Metro Transit Police Department started cracking down on fare evasion Monday.
A new provision in the recently passed Secure DC crime bill makes it easier for officers to issue citations.
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A Metro spokesperson said they’ve seen about a 70% decline in fare evasion at stations with the new faregates.
Starting Monday, officers have a new tool to stop those who don’t pay.
Riders who get caught by police have to give their real name and address so an officer can issue a civil citation. If they don’t, they can face a fine of $100 or be arrested.
“Well, it’s the first day. I mean, I’m willing to accept that it’s the first day, but hopefully we’ll see more presence,” said customer Dagmar Painter at the Mt. Vernon Square 7th St-Convention Center station. “This is a particularly lively metro stop when it comes to fare jumping.”
Metro: New fare gates reducing fare evasion by more than 70%
But even with the new enforcement, new gates and barriers, DC News Now witnessed numerous riders getting through without paying, including two people piggy backing off an unsuspecting customer.
“I know that it’s not just enforcing the laws that are on the book. It’s having the right personnel to do so and I think that’s a challenge,” one customer said.
DC News Now asked customers if they noticed enforcement on Monday.
“No. More so just security officers, like on the actual trains themselves, which I saw something about, but I haven’t really seen anything specifically at the stations [or] at the gates,” said Jessica Jaing.
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Special police officers are being used to patrol platforms and trains. But Metro Transit police are the only ones who can issue citations.
Citations for fare evasion issued in D.C. are still civil offenses. Citations issued in Maryland and Virginia are criminal offenses.
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