WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Metro is considering new ways to curb teen violence on the transit system.
One possibility being discussed is to start tracking school age kids who ride Metro trains and buses.
"Right now if a youth is caught doing something they may not tell what school they go to," said Metro Board member Tommy Wells, who suggested that could be changed by issuing "I.D." cards that work like SmarTrip Cards.
"Right now youth use magnetic strip cards that give them unlimited service," he explained. "So with a smart card, we'll actually electronically be able to track youth, especially youth that are doing bad things. We'll be able to ban them from the system for a couple of weeks. So there will be consequences for bad behavior."
Brian Gluckman said he almost had his Nook stolen at gunpoint a couple of weeks ago. A young man showed him a gun inside his coat while he was riding the train near the doorway.
"I'm not sure that change would help...other than having more cops on the platforms," he said. "That's really the only thing that's going to deter them."
Board members agreed they do need more police officers patrolling on platforms and trains. In fact, one other security change they are considering is redeploying police officers who conducted random bag searches to patrol inside the stations.