Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto introduced new legislation, allowing the WMATA to enforce harsher penalties for metro riders who fail to pay the fare.
According to a media release from Pinto, the new Metro Safety Amendment Act of 2023 will allow Metro Transit police to detain fare evaders and issue a fine of up to $100 if the evader does not provide valid identification.
In 2018, the D.C. Council decriminalized Metro fare evasion after recognizing the racial disparities the then-criminal offense had on the metropolitan area. Current D.C. law says that instead of arresting and criminally charging fare-jumpers, the person can have a fine issued to their address. However, Pinto said in the media release that there is no current enforcement mechanism to require the fare-jumpers to provide their real name and address.
Pinto also stated that on top of the estimated $40 million in revenue loss from fare-jumpers, there is a correlation between fare evasion and serious crime in the Metro system.
“While not everyone who fare evades commits criminal activity in the system, the vast majority of those who commit criminal acts on Metro fare evade and in the wake of several serious and fatal incidents on Metro this year, we must equip law enforcement with the tools they need to keep riders safe,” said Pinto.
The full media release by Councilmember Pinto can be read here:
We must empower people to be able to take & afford public transportation AND we must have consequences for fare evasion to promote safety & ensure full service.
Today, I intro'd the Metro Safety Amendment Act to allow @wmata to better enforce civil penalties for fare evasion. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/DUBozdFTm2
— Councilmember Brooke Pinto (@CMBrookePinto) June 8, 2023
