BART board opposes state bill that would decriminalize fare evasion

15 MINUTES. >> WE ARE HERE AT THE WEEKEND. THANK YOU, JEFF. >>> IN OTHER HEADLINES B.A.R.T. IS TRYING TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE. IF YOU WANT TO RIDE YOU GOT TO PAY. THE BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION OPPOSING A PROPOSED STATE LAW THAT WOULD DECRIMINALIZE FARE JUMPING. NBC'S SERGIO QUINTANA HAS THE STORY FROM SAN FRANCISCO. >> Reporter: IF YOU ARE A REGULAR B.A.R.T. COMMUTER YOU'VE LIKELY SEEN A FARE JUMPER GETTING INTO THE B.A.R.T. SYSTEM. RIGHT NOW B.A.R.T. POLICE HAVE THE DISCRETION TO CHARGE SERIAL FARE EVADERS WITH A.M. M. IF A PROPOSED STATE LAW PASSES, FARE EVASION ACROSS THE STATE COULD NO LONGER BE CHARGED IN A CRIMINAL COURT. B.A.R.T. RIDERS SEEMED TO BE OPPOSED TO THE LEGISLATION. >> THE MORE WE DECRIMINALIZE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR THE MORE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE. >> ME PERSONALLY I AM THE TYPE OF PERSON IF I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GET ON THE SUBWAY I AM GOING TO WALK. >> Reporter: BY A VOTE OF 5-3 THE B.A.R.T. BOARD OF DIRECTORS PASSED A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE LEGISLATION. THE BOARD MEMBER DEBRA ALLEN WAS WITH THE MAJORITY AND SAYS AT A TIME WHEN B.A.R.T. IS TRYING TO CONVINCE RIDERS TO RETURN THE LEGISLATION COULD BE HARMFUL. >> I THINK WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE RIDERS THAT SAYS B.A.R.T. DOESN'T CARE. ONCE WE LOSE THIS PROVISION WE WILL NEVER GET IT BACK. >> Reporter: IN PREPARED COMMENTS TO THE B.A.R.T. BOARD A MEMBER OF THE B.A.R.T. POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID ONLY A FEW PEOPLE HE EVER BEEN CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR FARE EVASION. STILL, THE B.A.R.T. POLICE OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION STRONGLY OPPOSES THE LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE FARE JUMPERS. IN A PREPARED STATEMENT THE B.A.R.T. PRESIDENT SHANE WRIGHT SAYS THEY NEED EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE TO HELP KEEP THE SYSTEM SAFE. IF WE CAN DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM FARE EVADING OR IF WE CITED SOMEONE FIVE, TEN, 20 TIMES WE CAN SEND THEM TO JAIL. RICE SAYS ACCORDING TO FIGURES FROM 2019 AND 2020 OF THE PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT, THEFT, SEX CRIMES, AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES, 80% DID NOT HAVE A VALID B.A.R.T. TICKET. THREE MEMBERS OF THE B.A.R.T. BOARD DID NOT SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT JANICE LEE WHO SAYS SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO BECOME LAW SO DIDN'T SEE ANY POINT IN SUPPORTING A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THAT. >> PEOPLE AREN'T LIKE I REALLY WISH THAT THIRD CITATION REMAINS A MISDEMEANOR FOR FARE EVASION CHARGES. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PUBLIC IS SAYING. THEY WANT B.A.R.T. TO BE

Channel: NBC Bay Area

Views: 11,536

Keywords: BART, California, fare evasion, Bay Area news

Id: x6sAMxQ_K2M

Length: 2min 19sec (139 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 29 2023