The following post originally appeared on El Pasajero, Metro’s Spanish-language blog. It has been translated and edited for posting on The Source. The post in Spanish is here.
Sheriff’s deputies increased patrols and surveillance of Blue and Green line trains earlier this month due to persistent complaints from riders about illegal vending of products aboard trains, as well as other violations of the code of conduct by passengers.
“Not only do we prevent the sale of any product, but also other activities that endanger the safety or welfare of passengers or do damage to facilities or Metro vehicles, such as smoking, eating, spitting, profanity, screaming, painting graffiti, scratched windows or seats,” said Capt. Daniel Cruz of the Sheriff’s Department, which patrols Metro Rail.
Cruz stressed that a zero-tolerance policy is being implemented toward anyone caught selling, damaging property or mistreating Metro passengers to ensure that all Metro customers enjoy a comfortable ride. Fines will be applied according to the severity of the offense.
The Sheriff reported that two arrests were made on April 14 of people who had been arrested on prior occasions — including one for selling DVDs.
Cruz said that more deputies will be used to patrol trains and that numerous signs have been installed about rules against selling goods on trains as well as eating, smoking and disturbing other passengers.
Many riders, however, continue to ignore these rules. On the Blue Line recently, a young mother was walking along the platforms of several stations selling boxes of chocolates. Asked if she knew this was illegal, the mother said: “I knew it was bad. I do it because it helps me with my children’s expenses, but I won’t do it anymore.”
Other passengers said that the conduct did not bother them. “I have no problem with people selling, provided it is not harmful things like drugs,” said Cecilio Serrano.
However, Sheriff’s Capt. Cruz, said that sales on trains and buses are prohibited because it is usually people who have no vendor’s license and because it opens the door for other criminal activities. “Besides being illegal competition for established businesses, we do not know if the products they sell may cause damage to your health,” he said. “So it’s best to prohibit this activity and prevent further damage.”
Cruz added that initially the Zero Tolerance Policy will be implemented in the Blue and Green Metro lines and then spread throughout the Metro train system.
Hi there;
I would kindly like to ask readers to keep their comments brief out of respect for casual readers of The Source who may be interested in your viewpoints but may not be interested in reading hundreds of words to learn them.
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Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Not to get too far off topic and keeping the comment simple and quick. It seems to me that switching fare models is alot harder politically in this country than people give it credit for. How else can you explain why BART and Washington DC Metro operate on distance based fares while NY Metro still operates on a flat fare with a more comprehensive system.
@Fakename70
I can assure you I am not new to Metro. I’ve ridden it for about 3 years now ever since I’ve moved to LA. I’ve taken the red line every weekday from Vermont/Sunset to Union Station. When I was substitute teaching, I regularly rode the blue line to Florence Station, (my schools were typically in the area) and I used to ride the green line about once a month to go turn in paperwork near LAX.
“I’m sure there are plenty of people just like you who complain that there aren’t enough cops around to make them feel safe from the unwashed masses.”
Uh, if I didn’t want to be around the “unwashed masses” I would drive. I choose to go metro because I like trains and I believe that Southern California cannot grow out anymore. When I see some derelict man yelling obscenities directed at all the women in the car and trying to punch someone, then yea I want to know if he’s freeloading the system, and if he is and endangering someone, I want him out, same thing for someone who did buy a tickets who breaks the rules.
And asking for tickets isn’t hassling someone. Hassling is when the sheriff starts berating or demeaning a citizen. asking “tickets please” is not hassling, that’s procedure. If the sheriff verbally assaults or hurts a patron, then I will join you and demand disciplinary action.
Fakename, the Blue Line not only has more riders than the Gold Line but also more fare evasion. It makes sense that tickets are checked more often at that line.
Rather than derail this blog entry further, I will post this link to a Transport Politic article on the subject.
http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/08/17/are-turnstiles-worth-their-cost/
The comments section features a full debate on the matter, which includes everything we could possibly say here.
well let address some issue
first thing is the turn sytels
they are not locked because
there are passenger who use a transfer
from another bus company, also
lot of access riders also use metro
and their ID cards is not tab able for
also metrolink tickets and pass are also honor as caild fare
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as for vending it could a way for theft
suppose someonne would would but somethi
that person is going to have to reach into theit pocket reveling which pocket they keep their wallet