Not on our Bus, Take 2

Today Pierce Transit resumes its “not on our bus” program, involving uniformed personnel increasing their presence on buses and around bus stops. It is designed to cut down on “unlawful and disruptive conduct on bus routes, at transit centers, and at bus stops near certain high schools.”

This is the second time they’ve done this. Last year’s effort yielded 750 “contacts” with 68 riders receiving 90 day bans from Pierce Transit. Banned riders are posted in the operator’s lobby and the historical recidivism rate is only 3%.

Full press release after the jump.

TACOMA, WA – Starting Tuesday, Aug. 31, Pierce Transit, the Tacoma Police Department, and the Tacoma Public Schools are partnering for “NOT ON OUR BUS,” a zero-tolerance enforcement operation of unlawful and disruptive conduct on bus routes, at transit centers, and at bus stops near certain high schools.

Uniformed Pierce Transit Police, Security Officers, and Service Supervisors, along with Tacoma Police Officers will increase their presence on buses and conduct spot checks of identified bus stops and boarding areas near high schools.  Undercover Pierce Transit Police and Security Officers and Tacoma Police Officers will also be riding buses and monitoring transit centers to enforce the State of Washington and the City of Tacoma’s Unlawful Transit Conduct Codes.

Riders who are found to be violating the Unlawful Transit Conduct Codes may be held immediately accountable by exclusion from Pierce Transit services for 90 days.

From October 30th through November 20, 2009 the “Not on Our Bus” effort was implemented to address a number of “Quality of Life Issues” on buses, at transit centers, and at bus stops near certain high schools.  The program was highly successful and yielded a safer transit environment for student passengers, and the general public.  Nearly 750 contacts were made, resulting in 68 ninety-day exclusions from Pierce Transit services for disorderly behavior or criminal activity.

Emphasis areas:

Pierce Transit Routes: 1, 2, 10, 11, 16, 42, 51, 53

Pierce Transit Facilities: Lakewood Mall Transit Center, Tacoma Community College Transit Center, Tacoma Dome Station, Tacoma Mall Transit Center

Tacoma Public Schools: Foss High School, Lincoln High School, Mt Tahoma High School, Oakland High School, SAMI, Stadium High School, Wilson High School

For information about the State of Washington and the City of Tacoma’s Unlawful Transit Conduct Codes, visithttp://www.piercetransit.org/alerts/rcw.htm.