King County Metro to resume fare inspection March 31; full enforcement begins May 31

King County Metro will resume fare inspection on March 31, 2025, with a phased approach that moves from education to formal enforcement, Metro officials told the Regional Transit Committee on March 19.

Metro presented the plan to the committee as part of a broader safety and equity agenda. ‘‘Starting March 31, fare inspectors will ask riders for proof of payment and provide friendly verbal reminders and information,’’ Renee Hosogi, Metro’s SAFE Reform program manager, said. ‘‘Full enforcement—written warnings moving toward citations—will begin May 31.’’

The phased approach is intended to reset rider behavior and limit immediate punitive impacts. During the education phase (starting March 31), inspectors will ask for proof of payment (a tapped ORCA card or valid transfer) and provide information about reduced‑fare programs and how to obtain them. Beginning May 31, Metro will issue written warnings and, after two warnings, may issue a citation that could result in a fine or one of several alternate resolutions.

Why it matters: Metro relies on fares as a funding source and must meet Federal Transit Administration funding obligations. Committee members and Metro staff framed the resumption as both a revenue stewardship action and a public‑facing reinforcement of the system’s code of conduct, coupled with expanded non‑enforcement supports.

Key elements of the resumption plan

- Dates and phases: education begins March 31, 2025; full enforcement (written warnings and citations) begins May 31, 2025. Metro said the phased rollout allows time to re‑baseline system data and give riders notice.

- Enforcement staff: Metro plans to deploy 30 fare enforcement officers operating in teams of two to three on buses and the streetcar. Metro described those officers as transit security personnel who will also be trained in first aid, CPR, AED and Narcan administration. Metro said fare enforcement is not the operators’ responsibility.

- Warnings, citations and alternate resolutions: a rider may receive two written warnings without further sanction. After two warnings, Metro may issue a citation. Per Metro’s description of the program, a citation can be resolved by paying a fine (the program description lists a $40 penalty reduced to $20 if paid within 30 days), loading funds onto an ORCA card, enrolling in an eligible reduced‑fare program, performing two hours of community service, or appealing to the fare adjudicator for a customized resolution. Metro said the authority administering appeals will be a fair adjudication program manager.

- Youth and reduced‑fare handling: officers will ask all riders, including youth, for proof of payment. Metro said youth riders (18 and under) may identify themselves verbally as youth if they do not have a card or school ID when asked; officers will not require proof in that moment but will provide instructions on how to obtain the free youth pass. Metro emphasized that inspectors will lead with information about existing reduced‑fare options—ORCA LIFT (income‑based), senior/reduced regional fare permits, subsidized annual passes tied to program enrollment, and the free youth pass—and will provide materials on how to enroll.

- Community engagement and equity: Metro said the plan was developed with input from an equity work group that included nine community members, two operators and one former fare‑enforcement supervisor. Metro said it will run a public education campaign on buses, shelters and online; materials include revised interior code‑of‑conduct posters and back‑seat stickers carrying community voices and plain‑language instructions.

- Operations policy and partners: Metro stressed that fare inspection is part of a broader safety strategy that also includes behavioral‑health specialists, transit ambassadors and a regional transit safety task force launched with ATU Local 587 and regional elected officials. Rebecca Frankhauser, Metro’s director of safety and security, said the behavioral‑health pilot teams work in partnership with King County Department of Community and Human Services and are operating at selected transit centers to provide crisis de‑escalation and service referrals.

Questions and clarifications from the committee

Committee members asked about staffing levels and program evaluation. Metro said the 30‑officer count reflects the pre‑pandemic staffing level (roughly 32 officers before 2020) and that resuming enforcement will allow Metro to collect fresh baseline data. Metro said it will monitor compliance, engagement with reduced‑fare enrollment and other metrics and report back to the committee as implementation proceeds. Metro also said transit police will continue to be staffed separately for law‑enforcement responses and will be called if an interaction escalates to a criminal or emergency situation.

Limitations and cautions

Metro staff told the committee the program is not intended to funnel riders into the criminal legal system. In 2018–19 Metro shifted warnings and citations out of the court system and into administrative resolutions; the current resumption continues that approach and emphasizes alternate resolutions and referral to social‑service pathways where appropriate.

What Metro asked from jurisdictions

Metro staff asked committee members and local jurisdictions to share Metro’s public materials and notices through city newsletters and social media to increase awareness ahead of the March 31 education start.

Ending note

Metro officials said the resumption is one part of a larger effort to balance revenue stewardship, rider and operator safety, and equitable access to reduced‑fare programs. ‘‘We want to reset expectations that paying the fare is part of the code of conduct, but we also want to make it easier for people to get a reduced fare if they are eligible,’’ Renee Hosogi said.