‘Anything goes’ no more: Union president welcomes return of King County Metro fare enforcement

In the wake of murdered King County Metro driver Shawn Yim, fare enforcement is coming back.

As The Seattle Times reported, starting March 31, fare inspectors will ask King County bus passengers for proof of payment.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587 President Greg Woodfill told “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio Monday the pendulum is coming back around.

“It’s been tough on the drivers. It’s not just fare enforcement, it’s not not enforcing the rules, not being able to have the police come out and so the pendulum, society went through a stretch where we re-examined policing and the impact of that. So the pendulum swung all the way towards operators are having to drive in an environment, and passengers are an environment, where anything goes — there’s no accountability — and so thankfully, we’re kind of thinking about swinging it a little more back the other way,” he explained.

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Woodfill hopes the reinstated guidelines will foster safer rides. However, KIRO Newsradio’s Angela Poe Russell, filling-in for Ursula Reutin, wondered if operators asking for fares will simply create more conflict. If that were to happen, Woodfill says they have a staffing crisis that won’t help.

“The problem is we have about 70 Metro Transit police now and we’re dealing with safety issues to where the reality is, an agency our size should have 270 instead of 70,” Woodfill responded. “And then so we rely on other police agencies. How much are they going to step in? They’re not going to show up. If you call a Federal Way or Kent or whatever, and say ‘There’s somebody here that’s not paying their fare.’ So it’s just kind of, we’re a stretched out system.”

Woodfill also shared that some community members shared concerns over “equity,” as critics worry King County Metro will target a neighborhood or subset of the population. Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, rejected the concern.

“This has nothing to do with nothing else but pay your damn fare,” Gee said.

Listen to the full conversation below:

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Listen to “The Gee and Ursula Show“ weekday mornings from 9 a.m.- noon on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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