What you need to know about citations
There are many ways to buy fares, and several programs that make them more affordable. So, there’s no excuse to ride transit without paying for your ride.
Still, we know there are people who choose not to pay. To discourage this behavior, Metro Transit representatives who are not sworn police officers will check fares and issue administrative (non-criminal) citations to those who haven’t paid.
As a first step, Community Service Officers (CSOs) will begin checking fares and issuing citations on Monday, Dec. 4.
What do Community Service Officers do?
CSOs are members of the Metro Transit Police Department who are on a path to law enforcement careers. Their duties include riding transit to help customers, monitor behavior, and contact police when they observe illegal behavior or an emergency.
How will fares be checked?
CSOs or other transit personnel will board a train or bus, and ask each customer for their proof of payment, including Go-To Cards, paper transfers, or app tickets.
What happens if someone is found without a fare?
Those found without a fare will be given a non-fare compliance citation that must be paid within 90 days. Those who wish to appeal a citation may request a virtual or in-person hearing, where a third-party hearing officer will determine whether the citation should be upheld or dismissed. Unpaid violations may be referred to a collections process.
How much does an administrative citation cost?
3
3rd VIOLATION
$75 and prohibited from accessing transit service for 60 days
4+
4th & Subsequent VIOLATIONS
$100 and prohibited from accessing transit service for 120 days
How are administrative citations different than previous penalties?
Until a recent change in state law, those found without a valid fare could be issued a misdemeanor citation by a police officer. These citations were referred to the courts and in many cases were not prosecuted. Administrative citations also carry lesser fines and do not show up on criminal backgrounds.
How will the administrative citations program be evaluated?
The program will be evaluated through the tracking and analysis of several data points, including the number of fares inspected and the compliance rate, the number of citations issued, paid, or reduced according to the fine schedule, contested, and referred to collections. Surveys are also a tool for measuring customer satisfaction.
Learn more about fare payment options and programs
To learn more about buying fares and fare programs that can save you money, call 612-373-3333 or visit one of our Service Centers.
Those who receive their first administrative citation can reduce the $35 fine associated with the citation in several ways.
Load $20 in stored value to a Go-To Card or the Metro Transit app. (Fine is waived)
View the Transit School video and load $10 in stored value to a Go-To Card or the Metro Transit app. (Fine is waived)
View the Transit School video to reduce fine to $25.
If you qualify for the Transit Assistance Program (TAP), apply, then load $5 in stored value to a TAP card. (Fine is waived) TAP makes public transit more affordable for people with lower incomes. For program details, visit metrotransit.org/TAP.