Metro Transit Police in the District, as of Monday, has the authority to fine — and even arrest — fare jumpers as part of a massive, new anti-crime law that took effect this month.

Transit cops can now issue up to $100 fines to unpaid riders who refuse to show police their ID and share their name and address to receive the civil fine. 

Declining to share that information with police can also result in a fare evader being put in handcuffs under the Secure D.C. Omnibus, which took effect this month.  

The D.C. Council decriminalized fare evasion in 2018, removing possible punishments, including a $300 fine and up to 10 days in jail.

Since then, gate jumping has been a violation rarely punished in the District. But local officials insist the system’s dramatic loss of riders in recent years has more to do with post-pandemic changes in commuter habits than it does with the sense of lawlessness inside Metro stations, on train platforms and inside the rail cars themselves.

Of the 681 fare evasion citations issued by Metro Transit police from January through May 2023, local NBC affiliate WRC-TV reported that only 29 tickets were handed out in the District.

Both Maryland and Virginia already have $100 fines for fare evasion on the books.

Metro says people who skip out on their fares cost the transit system $40 million per year.

Metro said fare evasion dropped by 70% at stations with new fare gates that are harder to vault over.

The new Secure D.C. law also aims to curb the rampant carjackings and shootings that terrorized District residents all last year.

In 2023, the nation’s capital saw a 26-year-high in homicides and a record-high number of carjackings. 

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.