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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority is taking a new approach to maintaining order on its trains and buses.
The UTA Board of Trustees Wednesday approved revisions to the agency's ordinances that manage conduct on transit property, including reducing fines.
Previously, when the agency's law enforcement officers issued citations to riders who violate civil behavior ordinances such as fare evasion, those violators could receive fines ranging from $167 up to $370, said UTA chief safety officer David Goeres. From now on, fines will range from $50 to $100 per offense, depending upon the severity, he said, with nonpayment of fare at the highest level.
"We want our ridership to ride legitimately," Goeres said. "If we reduce the fine, we can get (them) back on the system (quicker)."
Minor offenses, such as smoking on transit vehicles or on rail platforms, littering or putting feet on seats, would result in class 1 penalties of $50 for each violation, he said. The midrange class 2 violations, such as graffiti or trespassing on transit property, would be subject to fines of $75 per offense.
Annually, the agency collects about $350,000 in fines from various ordinance violations, Goeres said.
