Students in DC K-12 schools, public and private, are eligible for a free metro card.

Anonymous wrote:They don't even need to take cases to court. Simply arrest and make fare jumpers sit on the station floor in flex cuffs for a few hours. It will be a deterrence example to others.

This really would be the best approach. Let them sit on the floor of the Metro station for a couple hours. Waste their time and they will eventually knock it off.

Thank the pro-crime democrats for this.

Plus: Metro’s facing a financial crisis and this is a big part

I don't like the thought of someone I don't know pushing into me without permission. Is that what's going on down there?

Regardless of DC law that "decriminalizes" refusal to pay the fare, Metro police should take the position that the offense arises throughout the Metro system, regardless of where the first fare gate is. In other words, the punk could jump a fare gate in DC but steals the fare all the way to Pentagon City or wherever the final destination is. Arrest the creeps anywhere and charge them in VA, where the police and courts aren't reluctant to kick some butt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Fare evasion is theft of services. I'm bothered by increasing crime and disorder, even if it's non-felonious. The fact that we've become more resigned to all of it in DC is a sad and stark illustration of Sen. Moynihan's phrase about "defining deviancy down."

It isn't increased crime and disorder, though.

People who don't even ride Metro posting about crime and disorder on Metro, is like me posting about the long lines at Disney World, which I have never been to.

1. People who ride Metro regularly resent the punks and freeloaders who jump the gates or refuse to pay the fare. They also resent the service cuts (bus lines, frequency of service). Metro's loss from fare theft adds to Metro's fiscal challenge. Metro's other response is to ask DC and other jurisdictions to pay more, which means that law-abiding, tax-paying riders pay twice.

2. Long lines at Disney world don't increase the price of admission or a ticket to a Disney film. Metro fare theft costs all of us.

3. Metro fare theft contributes to a feeling of greater lawlessness on Metro, that manifests itself in greater and lesser offenses (assault, theft, open pot smoking, etc.)

Are you one of them? I ride Metro regularly, and I don't. I do resent the surrounding jurisdictions that want to freeload off WMATA without providing a proper, reliable, dedicated funding stream.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Fare evasion is theft of services. I'm bothered by increasing crime and disorder, even if it's non-felonious. The fact that we've become more resigned to all of it in DC is a sad and stark illustration of Sen. Moynihan's phrase about "defining deviancy down."

In the grand scheme of increasing crime and disorder, it's extremely minor. I recognize it's a problem financially for Metro, but I don't share the (apparently) widespread sense that somehow it makes me personally a victim or a sucker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Fare evasion is theft of services. I'm bothered by increasing crime and disorder, even if it's non-felonious. The fact that we've become more resigned to all of it in DC is a sad and stark illustration of Sen. Moynihan's phrase about "defining deviancy down."

It isn't increased crime and disorder, though.

People who don't even ride Metro posting about crime and disorder on Metro, is like me posting about the long lines at Disney World, which I have never been to.

1. People who ride Metro regularly resent the punks and freeloaders who jump the gates or refuse to pay the fare. They also resent the service cuts (bus lines, frequency of service). Metro's loss from fare theft adds to Metro's fiscal challenge. Metro's other response is to ask DC and other jurisdictions to pay more, which means that law-abiding, tax-paying riders pay twice.

2. Long lines at Disney world don't increase the price of admission or a ticket to a Disney film. Metro fare theft costs all of us.

3. Metro fare theft contributes to a feeling of greater lawlessness on Metro, that manifests itself in greater and lesser offenses (assault, theft, open pot smoking, etc.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Fare evasion is theft of services. I'm bothered by increasing crime and disorder, even if it's non-felonious. The fact that we've become more resigned to all of it in DC is a sad and stark illustration of Sen. Moynihan's phrase about "defining deviancy down."

It isn't increased crime and disorder, though.

People who don't even ride Metro posting about crime and disorder on Metro, is like me posting about the long lines at Disney World, which I have never been to.

Everyone must pay. Simple as that. Metro needs to enforce it. It would eventually slow down then.

It feels like disorder to me as well. I am sorry to hear the new turnstyles were not a solution.

Anonymous wrote:I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Fare evasion is theft of services. I'm bothered by increasing crime and disorder, even if it's non-felonious. The fact that we've become more resigned to all of it in DC is a sad and stark illustration of Sen. Moynihan's phrase about "defining deviancy down."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I had someone scare the crap out of me by running up behind me when I went through. I had my young child with me and I thought that were going to rob me or grab her. I very rarely ride the metro anymore.

One of many reasons I no longer ride the metro.

I used to love the metro bit now it’s definitely purely the choice of last resort.

Ok, maybe not below the bus.

Arguably, some of the buses are better.

I really don't care if people walk through the turnstiles. I pay because I know I'm supposed to. I'd love it if they could figure out a way to cut down on fare evasion so the system isn't deprived of revenue, but I'm not personally bothered by the fact that some people are not paying when I am.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes I had someone scare the crap out of me by running up behind me when I went through. I had my young child with me and I thought that were going to rob me or grab her. I very rarely ride the metro anymore.

One of many reasons I no longer ride the metro.

I used to love the metro bit now it’s definitely purely the choice of last resort.

Ok, maybe not below the bus.