FARE ENFORCEMENT SOP: NON-DISCRIMINATION

1.0 PURPOSE:

This directive establishes the Standard Operating Procedure for ensuring
compliance with King County Metro's Non-Discrimination Policy for
members of King County Metro's Fare Enforcement Division team.

This SOP defines the basic responsibilities of the FEOs and the FE
Supervisor. It outlines how Fare Inspections are monitored to assure
discrimination does not occur. Details on how to do On Board Coach
Inspections and Fare Inspection Techniques are outlined in SOP-TS 102-01
and 102-02. Details on Issuing a Warning or Notice of Infractions are
outlined in SOP-TS 102-03 and 102-04. Use of Discretion is further
outlined in SOP-TS 102-07.

The purpose of this specific SOP on Non-Discrimination delineates how
the other related SOPs are monitored in relationship to FEO discretion
and fair treatment of all passengers.

2.0 SCOPE:

This directive applies to all King County Metro Fare Enforcement
Officers.

3.0 DEFINITIONS:

a.  COACH – Any Rapid Ride vehicle where FEOs have legal authority to
    enforce the Washington State RCWs relating to KC Metro’s Fare
    Payment Policy.

b.  COMMUNICATIONS CENTER – King County Sheriff Department dispatch
    radio center

c.  DFI – FEO’s Daily Fare Inspection Log

d.  EVADER – Passenger without valid fare

e.  FE - Fare Enforcement

f.  FEO – Fare Enforcement Officer.

g.  ID – Valid form of identification

h.  KCM - King County Metro

i.  KCSO - King County Sheriff Office

j.  NOI - Notice of Infraction

k.  POP - Proof of Payment

l.  TAP – When an ORCA card is validated by the platform reader

4.0 AUTHORITY:

It is the policy of King County Metro (KCM) to prevent discrimination by
treating every passenger with dignity and respect including those
passengers without valid Proof of Fare Payment. FEOs will not
discriminate based on Age, Race, Religion, Gender, Physical Disability
or Economic Status. The success of the Fare Inspection Program is
dependent upon a fair and consistent approach by all FEOs when
contacting passengers.

5.0 NON-DISCRIMINATION - FEO RESPONSIBILITIES

a.  FEOs shall conduct inspections for all passengers on board the
    coach.

b.  When a passenger without valid Proof of Fare Payment is contacted,
    the FEO may stop inspection until the evader is identified or wait
    to identify them after they disembark the coach.

c.  FEOs may identify a fare evader by behavior or actions that are
    consistent with fare evasion and they may be singularly inspected
    upon exiting the coach.

d.  FEOs will contact the KCSO Regional Communications Center if the
    evader refuses to provide valid ID.

e.  A fare evader WITHOUT previous contact that is cooperative will be
    handled as follows:

i.  The fare evader may be asked to exit the coach at the next stop in
      order to gather the pertinent personal information in a more
      private setting. Once the FEO receives proper identification, the
      passenger will be informed that they are free to board the next
      coach but they will have to purchase valid fare.

ii. The fare evader will be informed that if no previous contact exists,
      they will receive a warning.

iii. After it is determined the fare evader has no prior history,
      verified by a call the Security Monitoring Center, they will be
      given a warning and educated on the requirements to have valid
      Proof of Fare Payment.

iv. The fare evader’s identification information will be entered into
      the Fare Enforcement Contact Log.

f.  A fare evader who is not cooperative, who presented fraudulent or
    altered fare, who has been contacted before, or by the totality of
    the circumstances are determined to be an intentional evader, will
    be handled as follows:

i.  The fare evader will be asked to exit the coach at the next stop in
      order to gather the pertinent personal information in a more
      private setting.

ii. A Notice of Infraction (NOI) will be served to the fare evader by
      the FEO.

iii. The fare evader’s identification information will be entered into
      the Fare Enforcement Contact Log.

iv. The FEO will complete an affidavit that clearly articulates why this
      fare evader was issued a NOI rather than a Warning. The narrative
      will be factual information to establish the elements of fare
      evasion.

g.  Information related to a fare evader who refuses to identify
    himself/herself or does not have valid identification will be called
    into the KCSO Regional Communications Center for ID verification.

h.  All passengers contacted, fare evaders warned, and fare evaders
    issued a NOI will be listed on the DFI.

i.  When an fare evader has been determined to have multiple NOIs, the
    FEO will follow procedures outlined in SOP-TS 102-05 in order to
    recommend that a misdemeanor fare evasion case be filed by the Metro
    Transit Police.

6.0 NON-DISCRIMINATION - FE SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

a.  Supervisor(s) will review each DFI Log completed by the FEO for
    accuracy and comprehensiveness.

b.  The Supervisor(s) will do a search on each name the FEO entered in
    his/her DFI Log to assure that the fare evader has not been warned
    numerous times.

c.  If the evader has been previously warned and is entered again as a
    warning, the Supervisor will discuss the contact with the FEO to
    determine why a NOI was not written. The Supervisor may direct the
    FEO to issue a NOI.

i.  Orca cards are unique in that they may contain a monthly pass that
    has already been paid. If the passenger did not tap their card, they
    have not provided valid Proof of Payment. However, discretion may be
    used in this circumstance to issue a second warning depending on how
    long it has been since the previous non-tap occurred. The FEO can
    review the passenger’s “tap” history on the Orca reader.

ii. Whenever a passenger has been warned more than once, a narrative
    explaining the circumstances of the additional warning will be
    attached with the Contact Log entry.

d.  When a passenger has been issued a NOI, the Supervisor will check
    the fare evader's history in the Contact Log and review the
    narrative presented by the FEO.

i.  The narrative will articulate the complete details of the contact.

ii. The narrative will differentiate between those evaders who have been
      previously warned or issued a NOI from those who through their
      actions warrant a NOI without a previous warning.

iii. Any previous NOI will be noted in the narrative and the NOI number
      written in the appropriate box on the front of the NOI.

iv. All fare media will be copied and provided as evidence for the NOI.

e.  If a NOI has been issued that is not justified (based upon the
    standard established in this SOP), it will be voided by the FEO at
    the direction of the Supervisor(s) and/or FE Manager.

f.  Monitoring the discretion of the individual FEO is a principle
    responsibility of Supervisor(s) to assure discrimination does not
    occur.

g.  IF IT IS SUSPECTED THAT ANY FEO IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH KCM'S
    NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY OR NOT BEING CONSISTENT IN THEIR TREATMENT
    OF PASSENGERS, A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY THE
    SUPERVISOR. FE MANAGEMENT SHALL TAKE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST THE
    FEO, UP AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM THE KCM ACCOUNT, IF IT IS
    DETERMINED AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT THE FEO VIOLATED
    THIS POLICY OR TREATED PASSENGERS DISPARATELY.

7.0 REVIEW:

The KCM Contract Security Coordinator or Delegate will ensure all
Directives, Policies, and Procedures are reviewed at least annually to
ensure compliance with King County Metro Security Division policy.
Directives, Policies, and Procedures will be updated immediately if
division procedure changes or when a facility adds or deletes post
positions or procedures and duties.

8.0 SUPERSESSION: All previous Fare Enforcement Manuals. All memorandums
are unaffected.

9.0 EFFECTIVE DATE: 01/15/2015

ISSUING AUTHORITY

___________________

Gail Israelson

KCM Contract Security Coordinator