WASHINGTON — Metro Transit Police (MTPD) will crack down on fare evasion in D.C. using a new tool made possible by the passage of the Secure DC crime bill.
Starting Monday, police will be able to issue $100 fines or arrest people who refuse to pay for rides.
Metro says that before the new policy, Metro Transit Police officers have only been able to ask fare evaders to leave the station or to pay the fair. Under the new policy, riders will have to provide their ID, or name and address so the officer can issue a civil citation of up to $50.
If they refuse to, the fine could double and a person can even be arrested.
In a video published by Metro this week, Deputy Chief Daniel Alvarez says, "Anyone who refuses to provide this information could be subject to a fine of $100 or be arrested. Making sure everyone pays their fare is a vital part of ensuring a safe and efficient system."
In Maryland and Virginia, fare evasion citations are already $100.
Councilmember Brooke Pinto who sponsored the Secure DC bill that made this change a reality says the biggest misconception about this new policy, is how it applies to kids. "Metro Transit Police has a policy, they do not enforce fines against kids," she told WUSA9.
Pinto also pushed families to take advantage of the program available for kids to get for free Metro rides.
The new policy adds to other measures the transit system has been implementing to curb fare evasion. Metro says people not paying their rides costs them $40 million a year.
The new higher fare gates have decreased fare evasion by more than 70% at the stations that have them according to the transit system.
Metro has also increased police patrols, hired special officers and crisis intervention specialists in an effort to reduce crime.