Unsuck DC Metro: Too Little Enforcement?

Friday, April 6, 2012

Too Little Enforcement?

Illustration

Interested to hear from people who've called MTPD. (If you can remember the number, that is.)

From a Metro insider/rider:

The other day, I witnessed two women jump the fare gates at the elevator lobby at Gallery Place.

When I spoke to them they said, "who would ever pay for this? I have been caught before, and they just let me go! Too much trouble for those cops to deal with."

Mind you, they were both boarding with drinks and food that they were enjoying.

Wonder how prevalent this is?

I know these two were very comfortable just jumping the gate.

Also, if there can be a live line for sexual harassment complaints - why not for all criminal activity?

Try to get a cop when you need one!

Calling 962-2121 does no good!

Too many officers hanging out in station back rooms or on the bridge at Gallery Place (instead of the walking the platforms) or in the back rooms hidden in parking structures.

Our new motto should be: Too many cops, too little enforcement.

Other items:
Only at Metro would you hear the word "refire." (Examiner)

Comments (18)

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+3 Vote up Vote down

@davinpet · 677 weeks ago

I've noticed that sometimes I would see Station Managers or other Metro employees standing around near the fates gates watching people using them. Other times, no one is around pay attention them.

+15 Vote up Vote down

William B. · 677 weeks ago

I've only called the MTPD once, a couple of years ago. I was riding the Orange Line from Falls Church into town during the daytime. I can't remember exactly why I called; some woman was acting crazy or threatening, I think. Having heard the Metro Transit Police announcements many times, I managed to remember their phone number, but no one answered! It just rang and rang. I had to redial several times before someone picked up. What if there had just been a more serious problem than the minor one I was calling to complain about?

1 reply · active 677 weeks ago

+12 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 677 weeks ago

Same with me. I called once to report a suspicious person prowling Rosslyn.....ring ring ring ring ring ring. never picked up. my train came so i left.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Joseph · 677 weeks ago

Funny enough, I've actually gotten nabbed after accidentally jumping the gate - my smarttrip didn't take and I didn't notice as I was behind someone. A Metro cop pulled me aside and gave me a ticket. It was around 50 clams. Annoying more than anything. And totally on accident.

+10 Vote up Vote down

Ever n Anon · 677 weeks ago

And yet they feel it useful to do bag checks for "dangerous elements" and help prevent terrorism on the lines. Irony, thy name is Metro.

1 reply · active 677 weeks ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

anon · 677 weeks ago

Which, of course, are illegal.

+11 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 677 weeks ago

I see people jump the gates all the time, sometimes even while station managers are watching them, and then they just calmly walk out without any repercussions. It drives me crazy!

+13 Vote up Vote down

Alexandra · 677 weeks ago

I see gate jumping all the time on the green line. Also, in the 2 years I've been riding on the Metro I have never once witnessed a bag check or ticketing for eating/drinking. I have attempted to report two separate unintended bags. One on a station platform to a station manager who replied, "Well then, I guess I better get out of here." He did indeed high tail it out of there. The second time it was on the train, tried to notify the conductor upon leaving the train, who never opened his window to watch people boarding, then tried to call the police with no answer. I give up.

+5 Vote up Vote down

anon · 677 weeks ago

The thing about gate jumping is that if you aren't using a paper card, you have to gate jump at both ends. If you enter the system with a SmarTrip and then exit by gate jumping, then the next time you want to use the card you'll have to get it cleared by the station manager, as it won't show you exiting.

1 reply · active 677 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

@VeggieTart · 677 weeks ago

True that. It's probably easier to gate jump in NYC (which is what the picture above seems to be depicting) where you only have to pay the fare on entering the system.

That said, gate jumping with food and drink in hand is no mean feat--unless they went through the emergency only gate or went through while someone else was paying--also no mean feat.

+14 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 677 weeks ago

I think it would benefit metro to have a lot more undercover cops. I see people breaking rules or even outright committing crimes probably about half of the time I ride metro. I can only imagine what a plain clothes cop would see if he pretended to be a commuter all day.

On the enforcement side of things, part of the problem is also the law. Even if cops can arrest every person breaking the law on metro, it won't make a difference until the justice system actually holds them accountable.

+4 Vote up Vote down

UnSuck Fan · 677 weeks ago

I think the only people who care about fare jumpers are the paying riders such as the readers of this blog.

I know this problem is fare jumpers, but maybe WMATA really should have paid attention to where they put some of the fare gates.

I noticed a couple of fare jumpers at a couple of stations where the fare gates were placed by the elevator such as Rosslyn and Takoma Park. I'm sure it makes it easier for the physically challenged, but it's also an easy way for able-bodied to dodge paying their fare. As a matter of fact, I was coming back from vacation via Dulles Airport and Rosslyn station. Instead of taking the elevator, we all rode the escalator. On the way down into the station, I watched as an able-bodied woman got off the elevator and squeeze through the gate without paying.

Again, I don't know the details about stations and why fare gates are placed where they are, but I wonder if it would have helped WMATA if they had placed them elsewhere. My "home station" Wheaton has all the fare gates at one location. Everyone has to pay before making their way into the system, and the elevator is a short distance away from the gates.

Again, having the fare gates where they are such as they are at Wheaton may still not deter fare jumpers. Just my two cents.

1 reply · active 676 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 676 weeks ago

Some of those "odd" faregates were placed as an afterthought because the design of the station had to be changed years ago. Metro was sued many years ago because some of the stations didn't have elevators initially. Since they weren't part of the original design, the elevators had to be retro-fitted in locations that weren't designed for them. This is what led to those old faregates with the swing gate and the little slot to put your farecard in, to the newer "A.D.A. compliant" gates now.

Another thing: Metro placed a looooong delay on the faregates closing after receiving many rider complaints years ago. Of course, much of it was due to the riders themselves not being patient and making sure their farecards registered properly before trying to pass--when it didn't register, the gate would close and slam the trailing passenger in the sides. If these things were on our Southern U.S.border, half of Central America could get through in a day.

+9 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 677 weeks ago

Go to Pentagon City for the evening rush hour and as you exit the station, to the left, there is a recycle bin. Every evening, there is usually a MTPD officer there. And usually every evening, he or she is playing a game, texting, or otherwise fiddling around on his/her cell phone (and unless MTPD issues iPhones or other similar touch-screen devices, I don't think it's a work-related activity) and completely ignoring anyone that passes. If he/she is supposed to be there to be on guard for suspicious activity, what can he/she possibly see with his/her face buried in a cell phone?

1 reply · active 676 weeks ago

+5 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 676 weeks ago

I believe the officer stands out of sight at Pentagon City--to catch fare evaders. Crazy, huh??!! I've seen them emerge from the 'shadow" over there and nab a few. I'm sure it's a "fishing hole" as the miscreants head over into the Commonwealth when school lets out in D.C. & P.G. The kids enter into the system on those ridiculous D.C "Student Farecards" in D.C. and then try to sneak out by getting up close behind another rider and pretend to use a Farecard or SmarTrip card.

As far as the phone use goes, there are plenty of stories about radio problems, maybe that's simply the best way to communicate between each other.

And some officers are actually issued Blackberries--it depends on his/her job.

+12 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 677 weeks ago

Does Metro even employ plain-clothes cops? They should have plain-clothes officers patrolling Metro often. The hood rats would have to think twice about screwing with someone if there was a chance that that person had a gun and handcuffs.

+2 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 676 weeks ago

More cameras that record at a suitable resolution would solve a lot.

+6 Vote up Vote down

dddddda · 676 weeks ago

On one hand, I've seen a lot of blatant gate-jumping. Often, I see people walk right through the emergency gate while the station manager is watching, and nothing gets done.

However, if the station manager at Gallery Place is paying attention, they can stop people who jump the gate to exit at the elevator. Once, when I was coming in that way, two girls jumped the gate, and there was a voice from the heavens. The station manager had seen them on her monitor, stopped the elevator, and announced that those girls weren't going anywhere until they went back and paid their fare. One (small) success!