2018 “Decriminalization” of Metro fare evasion in DC

[Anonymous]

The city council, citing “racial equity” voted to decriminalize Metro fair evasion in 2018.

Prior to 2018, it was a crime to jump Metro turnstiles. Criminals caught before 2018 could face up to a $300 fine and possibly even jail time, especially for repeat offenders.

Current law = not a crime. Offenders do not have to give their real name, and there is no penalty for giving police a fake name. Max fine (if the offender gives their real name) is $50; similar to a parking ticket.

Fare evasion is only one of many areas of law the DC council has tampered with.

The DC city counsel has only itself to blame for the skyrocketing crime epidemic in DC.

[Anonymous]

On WTOP today, it was reported the Council is debating a bill which would require those arrested for fare evasion to give their real names to police, instead of giving a fake name:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-council-to-hold-hearing-on-bill-making-it-easier-for-police-to-issue-fines-for-metro-fare-evasion/3441354/

Is that fair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On WTOP today, it was reported the Council is debating a bill which would require those arrested for fare evasion to give their real names to police, instead of giving a fake name:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-council-to-hold-hearing-on-bill-making-it-easier-for-police-to-issue-fines-for-metro-fare-evasion/3441354/

Is that fair?

I am speechless.

[Anonymous]

The city council should be indicted for this. They have just been encouraging lawlessness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On WTOP today, it was reported the Council is debating a bill which would require those arrested for fare evasion to give their real names to police, instead of giving a fake name:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-council-to-hold-hearing-on-bill-making-it-easier-for-police-to-issue-fines-for-metro-fare-evasion/3441354/

Is that fair?

"Metro says new, taller fare gates have slashed fare evasion at the stations where they’ve been installed, including an 84% decrease at Mount Vernon Square."

Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Metro officials open the turnstiles when school lets out and beg the kids to just walk through, not 'jump'. And the kids ride free, but still prefer to jump! Yes, we have created a culture of lawlessness.

[Anonymous]

Decriminalizing fare evasion is moronic and indefensible. Fare evaders are far more likely to commit other crimes within the rail system; letting them ride the trains makes Metro much less safe. Moreover, when police arrest fare evaders they often catch people with guns or outstanding warrants, so decriminalizing takes away an important law enforcement tool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On WTOP today, it was reported the Council is debating a bill which would require those arrested for fare evasion to give their real names to police, instead of giving a fake name:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-council-to-hold-hearing-on-bill-making-it-easier-for-police-to-issue-fines-for-metro-fare-evasion/3441354/

Is that fair?

They probably don't have IDs anyway. ID is racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro officials open the turnstiles when school lets out and beg the kids to just walk through, not 'jump'. And the kids ride free, but still prefer to jump! Yes, we have created a culture of lawlessness.

Yes- now I routinely see people smoking cigarettes and pot in the Metro. This woukd have been unthinkable a decade ago. Metro is a perfect example of deviancy defined down, to use Moynihan’s famous phrase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Decriminalizing fare evasion is moronic and indefensible. Fare evaders are far more likely to commit other crimes within the rail system; letting them ride the trains makes Metro much less safe. Moreover, when police arrest fare evaders they often catch people with guns or outstanding warrants, so decriminalizing takes away an important law enforcement tool.

Giving someone a fine for fare evasion is persecution, that's why it's decriminalized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On WTOP today, it was reported the Council is debating a bill which would require those arrested for fare evasion to give their real names to police, instead of giving a fake name:

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/transportation/dc-council-to-hold-hearing-on-bill-making-it-easier-for-police-to-issue-fines-for-metro-fare-evasion/3441354/

Is that fair?

"Metro says new, taller fare gates have slashed fare evasion at the stations where they’ve been installed, including an 84% decrease at Mount Vernon Square."

Problem solved.

Solved? That’s your solution??

By that idiotic logic, all urban retail stores should implement a “pay first” policy and install ghetto storefronts like this:



Sorry, not sorry: terrible idea.

Bring back the pre-2018 law instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro officials open the turnstiles when school lets out and beg the kids to just walk through, not 'jump'. And the kids ride free, but still prefer to jump! Yes, we have created a culture of lawlessness.

I have a high school student who often jumps the turnstile because his pass is in the bottom of his backpack. I wouldn’t call him lawless… lazy but not lawless. He doesn’t see the point of fishing his KRF pass out. I tell him to do it especially because he had a MAGA tourist grabbed him and yelled at him about being “lawless”. I think folks picking on teenagers are focusing on the wrong problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro officials open the turnstiles when school lets out and beg the kids to just walk through, not 'jump'. And the kids ride free, but still prefer to jump! Yes, we have created a culture of lawlessness.

I have a high school student who often jumps the turnstile because his pass is in the bottom of his backpack. I wouldn’t call him lawless… lazy but not lawless. He doesn’t see the point of fishing his KRF pass out. I tell him to do it especially because he had a MAGA tourist grabbed him and yelled at him about being “lawless”. I think folks picking on teenagers are focusing on the wrong problem.

You are encouraging your child to break the law because of a comment from someone in a MAGA hat. Parent of the year right here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metro officials open the turnstiles when school lets out and beg the kids to just walk through, not 'jump'. And the kids ride free, but still prefer to jump! Yes, we have created a culture of lawlessness.

I have a high school student who often jumps the turnstile because his pass is in the bottom of his backpack. I wouldn’t call him lawless… lazy but not lawless. He doesn’t see the point of fishing his KRF pass out. I tell him to do it especially because he had a MAGA tourist grabbed him and yelled at him about being “lawless”. I think folks picking on teenagers are focusing on the wrong problem.

You are encouraging your child to break the law because of a comment from someone in a MAGA hat. Parent of the year right here

+1. Please do the hard part of parenting so the rest of us don’t have to.

[Anonymous]

So a person with a MAGA hat called out the behavior, correctly I might add, you advocate for DC to continue to act lawless?!?