The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has adopted a new section of the county’s codified ordinances that governs behavior on Metrorail trains as well as in Metrorail stations and facilities in the county. The Board unanimously approved the new ordinance at its July 12, 2023, public hearing.
Most prohibited conduct will be considered an “unclassified” misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to 50 dollars for the first offense, and up to 100 dollars for subsequent offenses. Examples of these offenses include fare evasion, smoking, spitting, littering, walking with bare feet and marking or drawing on a rail car.
Offenses that pose a more serious threat to public safety are Class 1 misdemeanors, which are punishable by up to twelve months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500. These offenses include carrying flammable liquids, opening a door or window on a rail car without justifiable reason, interfering with the operation of an escalator or elevator, being on a track, tunnel, catwalk or any other part of the railcar system and riding on top of, on the side of, or between two rail cars.
The Board’s action came at the request of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in support of its efforts to have uniform regulations across the Metrorail system. WMATA’s Silver Line Metrorail service began operating in Loudoun County in November 2022 and includes three stations: Dulles Airport, Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn.
The new ordinance will be primarily enforced by the Metro Transit Police Department. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office also will enforce the new ordinance as calls for service dictate.
Text of the adopted ordinance is included in the July 12, 2023 staff report. The newly approved county ordinance will be posted online in the coming weeks at loudoun.gov/ordinances.
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