Policing + Transit

Many transit agencies apply an overly punitive approach to minor transgressions. For example, this report argues that current methods of fare enforcement are too harsh. Fare evasion should be decriminalized, and the penalties should be made proportional to the severity of offense. In addition, enforcement should also be conducted by unarmed fare inspectors, not police. Similarly, criminalizing homeless people on transit is not an effective solution; transit agencies should invest in outreach workers and seek opportunities to partner with local municipalities instead. Lastly, rather than increasing the number of police officers on board, transit systems should tackle sexual harassment by making it easier to report, dedicate trained staff specifically to the problem, and hire transit ambassadors to patrol the system.