Don’t put armed cops on T system, groups tell transit panel

Port Authority to cite subway fare scofflaws

Their message was clear: For more than 90 minutes Friday, speaker after speaker told the Port Authority why its plan to use armed police officers to enforce fare payment on the light rail system later this year is a bad idea.

More than 30 speakers cited fear of officers using racial profiling when they check for payment. They said they worry about possible deportation for undocumented immigrants identified when officers run warrant checks before issuing a fare citation. They are concerned about the effect a potential $300 fine or jail for not paying a $2.50 fare could have on a family living paycheck to paycheck.

But Darnika Reed, a member of the Association for Police Accountability and an educator of specialneeds children for Pittsburgh Public Schools, had an even more serious concern. Many of the children she works with use public transportation and carry cards to explain their deficiency, and they may not understand when an armed officer approaches them.

“My concern is one of my work kids will be killed because they reach for that card [and an armed officer overreacts],” she told the authority’s board during its monthly meeting.

A coalition of groups — Pittsburghers for Public Transit, the Thomas Merton Center, Alliance for Police Accountability and Casa San Jose — want fare enforcement to be a civil matter like an unpaid bill instead of a criminal offense. They say the consequences for an unpaid fare are far too significant for a dispute of $2.50.

Following its policy, board members didn’t respond to the speakers. After the meeting, interim CEO David Donahoe said the agency would review the comments.

Under state law, Mr. Donahoe said, nonpayment of fares is considered to be a criminal offense, theft of services. The agency hadn’t considered asking the Legislature to change the law, partially because it hadn’t heard the concerns from riders.

The plan calls for officers to check all passengers on a train or all passengers in the paid passenger area of a station for proof of payment. That would avoid racial profiling, officials say.

The agency had expected to begin using cashless fares on the light rail system this summer in which riders pay or swipe a prepaid Connect Card at a machine at the station rather than on the train. Those machines have had software problems, so that won’t begin until at least the end of the year.

“Our goal here is only to collect the fare,” Mr. Donahoe said.

Treating unpaid fares as a criminal offense is no way to reach that goal, many speakers said. Some said they would encourage riders to boycott the system rather than face possible police confrontations.

Amy Risko, a hospice nurse, said she and many coworkers use public transit. At least three times in recent months, she said, the collection box on the light rail car wouldn’t read her prepaid card.

“Armed police officers are a terrible idea,” she said. “No one here is endorsing fare evasion, but we are asking you to consider its longterm effect on riders.”

Alan Hart, a United Electrical Workers union official whohas worked in several cities across country, said the system will lead to more community-police confrontations.

“I’ve never seen an armed authority collect fares,” he said. “The tragedy this leads to will be the responsibility of this board.”

Monica Ruiz of Casa San Jose said she will encourage her clients, most of whom are immigrants, not to use the light rail system if there are armed officers for fare enforcement.

Mr. Donahoe, who was named interim CEO in April and officially begin his duties Friday, called the comments “very helpful” and noted the policy was developed by the agency’s administrators without input from the board or the public. He said he will discuss the policy with the board before it is implemented.

Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.