Metro CEO Randy Clarke: 99.9% of System's Criminal Acts Linked to Fare Evaders

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke has consistently highlighted a strong correlation between fare evasion and serious criminal activity within the transit system. This perspective was echoed by Matthew Zeitlin, who noted on social media, "very consistent with what randy clarke said about fare enforcment, people with warrants and illegal guns on the subway are not paying." Clarke asserts that while not all fare evaders are criminals, "almost universally… 99.9% of people that commit criminal acts in our system fare evade," underscoring the agency's focus on enforcement for public safety.

Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) operations have frequently intercepted individuals with outstanding warrants and illegal weapons during fare enforcement efforts. In one notable instance, a man attempting to evade fare at a Pentagon City Metro station was arrested and found to be in possession of two semi-automatic handguns and brass knuckles. MTPD has reported hundreds of arrests of fare evaders who were subsequently found to have open warrants or illegal firearms, with 16 guns recovered in recent crackdowns.

The regulatory landscape in the District of Columbia has been a point of contention, as D.C. decriminalized fare evasion in 2018, classifying it as a civil offense. This distinction previously limited MTPD's ability to demand identification from fare evaders, unlike in Maryland and Virginia where it remains a criminal offense. However, a new D.C. law, part of the Secure D.C. public safety package enacted in March 2024, now empowers Metro police to issue fines or make arrests if individuals refuse to provide identification.

WMATA has also invested in physical deterrents, installing taller, "saloon-style" faregates across 25 Metrorail stations, which have reportedly led to a 70% drop in fare evasion at those locations. The agency estimates that fare evasion costs approximately $40 million annually, significantly impacting its operational budget. This comprehensive approach, combining enhanced enforcement and infrastructure improvements, aims to restore order and enhance overall safety for commuters, a strategy also employed by transit authorities in other major cities like New York, where fare enforcement is used to identify individuals with warrants or weapons and deter more serious crimes.