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Committee backs SFMTA ordinance to move youth fare cases out of court and set reduced fines
Summary
The committee forwarded an ordinance implementing California Senate Bill 413 to allow administrative processing of youth transit violations, with SFMTA proposing a $56 fine for youth (50% of the adult fine) and testimony from youth commissioners and community offices supporting the decriminalization of youth fare evasion.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee unanimously forwarded an amendment to the San Francisco Transportation Code intended to implement California Senate Bill 413’s provisions allowing local jurisdictions to process youth transit violations administratively rather than through the court system.
Diana Hammonds of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency told the committee the ordinance would consolidate fare evasion regulations, revise passenger conduct violations, and authorize a separate fine amount for youth. Hammonds said the administrative process will function similarly to parking tickets, allow flexible protest and payment options (removing in-person protest requirements), and that the SFMTA board intends to set the youth fine at $56, effective July 1 — described in the hearing as 50% of the adult transit fine.
Speakers representing advocacy and elected offices spoke in favor. Angeline Niu, from what she described as "Supervisor Mars' office" (as stated in the transcript), said the proposal would reduce criminalization of low-income communities and keep young people out of the criminal-justice system. Youth Commissioners Jillian Wu (District 1) and Chris Monckett (District 5) said the Youth Commission voted unanimously to support the ordinance. They referenced Free Muni for Youth enrollment (about 30,000 in the program’s first year, 2014) and said there remain over 900 juvenile-court cases related to youth riding without fare, arguing the administrative process would better protect youth.
With no public opposition recorded in the committee transcript, Supervisor Wiener moved to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation; the motion passed without objection and the item will be considered by the full Board.
The committee’s action advances the SFMTA-requested change to local code and authorizes the Board to consider the proposed fine and administrative-process rules.
