JUL 13, 4:40 PM

Metro Wants To Temporarily Ban Riders Who Commit Weapons And Sex Offenses On Trains And Buses

Jordan Pascale https://twitter.com/jwpascale

Metro says the number of sex offenses committed on trains and buses has doubled during the pandemic, and transit officials are now seeking ways to curb repeat offenders by temporarily banning them from the system.

Under the proposal, people who are cited for sexual or weapons-related offenses over a rolling 12-month period would suffer increasing consequences for every strike against them. A first offense would net a 14-day suspension from using the system, the second offense would merit a 30-day suspension, and a third offense would mean a year-long suspension.

If offenders are found on buses or trains again, they could be arrested for trespassing. They would also not be refunded for monthly or weekly passes they may have while on suspension.

Metro says that suspects for many crimes are usually placed under arrest and then released the same day with a court date in the future. But officials warn that these individuals often return to the system, “causing safety concerns for customers and employees.”

Metro is also pitching an appeals process, which would include a written appeal within five days of the citation and a binding answer from an appeals officer within 15 days. The transit agency is also open to carving out exceptions for certain individuals, like those under 18 — but only if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The Metro board’s safety and operations committee will hear a presentation on Thursday and vote whether to move the issue to the full board at its next meeting.

WMATA pointed to other systems around the country that have similar suspension policies, like MARTA in Atlanta and BART in San Francisco.

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