The D.C. Council gave final approval to a bill that would decriminalize cheating fares on Metro.
The bill, which would eliminate jail time for fare evasion in the District, passed 10-2 Tuesday. Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans was one of the D.C. Council members to vote against the bill.
Council member Trayon White, who represents Ward 8, introduced the bill, saying he believes enforcement is unfair.
"We're not saying everybody should hop the train and go for free, but locking people up is too much," White said.
Metro and Metro Transit Police lobbied heavily against the new law.
"It's gonna create challenges we can't even fathom right now," Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik said.
He said many of the people arrested for fare evasion committed other crimes.
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"We've done that hundreds of times in the District alone — first-degree murder, sexual offenses, numerous guns off the streets," Pavlik said.
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Metro Stations With Most Frequent Fare Evasion
Source: WMATA
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