WASHINGTON – Days before a much-anticipated final vote that would relax penalties on those who do not pay D.C. public transit fare, Metro’s board of directors is pleading with lawmakers to reconsider.
“Decriminalizing fare evasion in the District would be unfair to the overwhelming majority of riders, including those of limited means, who do pay their fares,” said WMATA’s board of directors in a Thursday letter to DC Council.
Fare evasion—the act of jumping Metro turnstiles or refusing to pay bus fare—is costing Metro millions. Last summer, WUSA9 watched for Metrorail fare evaders at Gallery Place Metro. Over a 20 minute period, we saw riders skip the fare gate 10 times.
The District’s 13-member council will hold a final vote Tuesday on a fare evasion bill that would turn a $300 criminal fine into a $50 civil penalty. The change would go into effect sometime next year. It would have no impact in Maryland or Virgnia.
Proponents of decriminalization analyzed more than 30,000 citations given over a 25 month period and insist enforcement highlights a racial disparity. The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights found more than 90 percent of those cited for fare evasion were black.
But Metro’s board underscores the financial drain on the transit agency, which believes it is losing $25 million in revenue each year from those who don’t pay fare on Metrobus alone. In the letter, Metro’s board proposed working with the District to provide subsidized fare cards to low-income residents.
Board members also stress the unintended benefits of fare evasion stops. Metro officials said while eight percent of fare evasion stops result in an arrest, 356 wanted criminals out on open warrants have been arrested in the last year.
“Stopping individuals for fare evasion and the ability to check identification is an important tool for our Metro Transit police officers,” said the letter.
