WASHINGTON D.C., DC — D.C. Council is considering legislation to help Metro Transit Police enforce the current civil law against fare evasion in the Metro system.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) says fare evasion happens 40,000 times every day within their system which over a year amounts to $40 million dollars.
In 2018, the D.C. Council decriminalized fare evasion. Currently in the District, not paying for public transportation is a civil offense of $50. In Maryland and Virginia, fare evasion is a criminal offense with fines of up to $100.
The Metro Safety Amendment Act of 2023, introduced by Councilmember Brooke Pinto, would require anyone stopped for fare evasion to provide their true name and address when stopped by a Metro Transit Police Officer. If the fare evader refuses, they could be detained and fined up to $100.
"This bill is seeking to give teeth to what civil enforcement means. We have a city of laws." Pinto who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety told reporters following the public hearing. She says her proposal addresses growing concerns over crime and Metro's $750 million dollar shortfall.
Carlos Andino with the Washington Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs was among the District residents who pushed back on Pinto's claims.
"There is no causal link between fair evasion and violent crimes on the metro, without this meaningful evidence-based approach, the council should not respond to this call for change."
Other District residents raised concerns about criminalizing the poor and how long people would be detained by Metro Transit Police.
Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Anzallo who spoke in support of the measure, said fare evaders would not be held overnight.
"It would take at least probably several hours at the most," he told reports.
Anzallo says that when people are detained, they will check for outstanding warrants and run the person through a terrorist watch list.
Among the other concerns voiced during the public hearing, is the impact of the legislation on young people.
"The Metro Transit Police has a policy that they do not enforce fines against kids," Pinto told WUSA9. She said the idea that this would target youth is the biggest misconception about her proposal.
Residents also questioned why the council was taking up this legislation when the new higher fare gates are reducing fare evasion by over 70% according to WMATA.
Pinto says she is going back to her colleagues to discuss pending concerns. She says she plans to act quickly because fare evasion is not an issue Metro can wait on for over a year.