King County Metro fare enforcement goes into effect today
Starting today, King County Metro will begin enforcing fare payments for all Metro buses and streetcars.
Metro is relaunching fare enforcement after pausing it back in 2020.
They will have at least 30 uniformed officers who will be checking to see if riders have paid their ticket or if their ORCA card is good to go.
If it's a first-time offense, officers will help guide you on how to pay the right fare, either on the transit app or your ORCA card.
A second violation will get you a written warning. However, for three or more violations, riders must choose from the following consequences:
• Pay a fine of $40 within 90 days, reduced to $20 within 30 days.
• Load $20 onto an ORCA card or—if eligible—$10 onto a reduced fare program card.
• Enroll in a reduced fare program if eligible.
• Perform two hours of community service.
• Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution.
• Youth who do not have proof of payment will not face a fine or alternative resolution, and will instead receive information on how to enroll in the Free Youth Transit Pass.
King County Metro added that 'because the freedom to move is a human right,' they will offer reduced and free fares to those who might need assistance to ensure everyone can take transit:
• Riders with lower incomes can get an ORCA LIFT card, which allows them to take Metro bus service for $1.
• Riders with disabilities and seniors are similarly able to ride a Metro bus for $1 with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card.
• All youth aged 18 and younger can ride for free and are encouraged to get an ORCA Youth card.
• Additionally, riders with the lowest incomes who are enrolled in certain government programs can also ride for free with the Subsidized Annual Pass.
• Please visit Metro's Reduced Fare web page to learn more about these programs and take a quick, five-question quiz to determine which fare may be right for you.
According to King County Metro, Metro's Safety, Security and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative collaborated with thousands of riders, community members, and Metro employees to make the transit system more equitable, secure, and welcoming.
'We met with our community groups and we designed our fare enforcement uniforms so that while they still identify that they are fare enforcement officers, it's a kinder, gentler uniform,' shared Metro's Chief Safety Officer, Rebecca Frankhouser.
To learn more, visit the King County Metro website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Safety expert warns of scammers selling free online courses
A Chorley safety expert has warned the public about online scammers charging people for his content. Dale Allen, founder of the Safety-Verse, said "copycat" companies have been taking his freely available health and safety courses and selling them to unsuspecting users. The Safety-Verse offers certified training through The Knights of Safety Academy, covering topics such as online safety, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, and mental health awareness. Mr Allen said: "For years, we have proudly provided free health and safety training to over 300,000 students to help people upskill, stay safe and build careers. "Our mission has always been rooted in one thing—access for everyone with no barriers. "These resources were created to save lives, not to be exploited for profit behind closed doors. "The misuse of our content without permission is deeply disappointing, unethical and unlawful." Mr Allen said "copycat" sites were not only charging for the free courses, but also issuing the Knights of Safety Academy's official certificates as if they were their own. He is now advising people to access the courses through the official Safety-Verse platform and to report any websites offering the training for a fee. While the copying activity is a breach of copyright law, Mr Allen said his bigger concern was that people were being exploited. Mr Allen added: "It's not just about the law, it is the principle. "People deserve honesty and clarity and we want to protect the value of free, open safety education." He also warned the public to be cautious of similar schemes online, including websites that charge for government services which are otherwise free, such as getting a tax refund from HMRC or applying for child benefit. The 44-year-old became interested in health and safety after a near-death experience at the age of five, when he almost choked on a marble. His mother was able to save him by holding him upside down and slapping him on the back until the marble dislodged. Mr Allen said the incident was a turning point in his life and led him to dedicate himself to safety education. More information and free training resources can be found at
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Head of ‘sham' construction safety training school gets one year in prison
The owner of a fraudulent construction safety company that faked safety certifications for thousands of workers, including one man who fell to his death from a job site in 2022, has pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and other charges and will do a year behind bars, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office announced. The company, Valor Security, previously one of the largest companies in New York City for job safety training, came under scrutiny in 2022 after worker Ivan Frias fell to his death from a 15-story Upper West Side building he was working on at 263 West End Ave., at W. 72nd St. Between December 2019 and April 2023, the company, founded by Alexander Shaporov, certified that 20,000 laborers had each completed 40 hours of courses, according to the district attorney's office. Laborers cannot work at most construction sites in the city without completing the training. But according to court documents, most of the workers who were certified by Valor were never trained — including Frias. Valor filed paperwork showing that Frias had received safety training, including eight hours of fall protection, but Frias never took the courses, court documents state. Shaporov and Valor Security both pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enterprise corruption, 10 counts of offering a false instrument and one count of reckless endangerment. Under the terms of their pleas, Shaporov is expected to be sentenced on Oct. 3 to one year in jail, 100 hours of community service and the forfeiture of $100,000. Valor also lost its security license. 'Valor Security is facing accountability for operating a sham safety training school, imperiling the workers in one of New York's most dangerous industries,' Bragg said. 'Valor's president, Alexander Shaporov, also pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering Ivan Frias, who tragically died when he fell from a construction site without proper training. We will continue to root out fraud with our partners at DOI and DOB,' he added, referring to the city's Department of Investigation and Department of Buildings. 'Ignoring the city's construction training standards poses grave risks and can have tragic consequences,' DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber said. The plea comes one day after a construction worker was killed by a slab of concrete falling on him as he worked on a building shed in Brooklyn. In that fatal accident, DOB issued multiple violations for work without a permit — including demolition in progress of a walk-in freezer and a commercial kitchen — and for failing to maintain the structure. In addition, officials said, DOB ordered all construction work at the site to stop immediately and for the building to be vacated and sealed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
2 men, 1 dog survive drive into Whiskeytown Lake near dam; Kennedy Memorial Drive reopens
Kennedy Memorial Drive reopened just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, after Whiskeytown National Recreation Area staff and local law enforcement pulled a vehicle out of Whiskeytown Lake. The park closed the road between East Beach and Glory Hole Spillway at 1:15 p.m., park staff posted on social media. The road stayed closed for almost four hours while a dive team located, then towed "a private vehicle out of the bottom of the lake," according to the announcement. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. The vehicle crashed into the reservoir at about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, the announcement said. Two young men and a dog, who were inside the vehicle when it went into the water, all survived, according to the park. Shasta County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection helped park staff get the vehicle safely out of the lake. "The public is reminded to obey posted speed limits, drive defensively, and to never drive under the influence of alcohol or other substances. At least one fatal vehicle accident occurs inside the national recreation area annually; we do not want that fatality to be you," the park posted on Facebook. (This story was updated with new information.) Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: 2 men, 1 dog survive drive into lake near Whiskeytown Dam
