DC lawmaker wants to lower Metro fare evasion penalty

WASHINGTON (AP) - A District of Columbia councilmember plans to introduce a bill to reduce penalties for fare evaders in the city’s Metro system.

Television station WRC-TV reports the bill would eliminate jail time and drop the fine from $300 to $100 for cheating bus or rail fare in the city.

The station reports Councilmember Trayon White plans to introduce the bill on Wednesday. In a statement, White’s office told the station that the bill would make evading fare on Metro a civil infraction punishable by fine instead of imprisonment. The statement says a “significant number of young people and economically challenged residents” are being arrested for what it called a “minor offense.”

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel told the station that the agency has not yet reviewed the proposed legislation.

___

Information from: WRC-TV, https://nbcwashington.com