Bill Text: CA AB426 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Transit fare evasion.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-25 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 100, Statutes of 2011. [AB426 Detail]
Download: California-2011-AB426-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 426 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 100
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 25, 2011
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR JULY 25, 2011
PASSED THE SENATE JUNE 27, 2011
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 5, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 10, 2011
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 16, 2011
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 31, 2011
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonnie Lowenthal
FEBRUARY 14, 2011
An act to amend Section 640 of the Penal Code, and to amend
Section 99580 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to
transportation.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 426, Bonnie Lowenthal. Transit fare evasion.
Existing law authorizes certain transit operators to adopt and
enforce an ordinance to impose and enforce civil administrative
penalties for fare evasion or passenger misconduct, other than by
minors, on or in a transit facility or vehicle in lieu of the
criminal penalties otherwise applicable, with specified
administrative adjudication procedures for the imposition and
enforcement of the administrative penalties, including an initial
review and opportunity for a subsequent administrative hearing.
This bill would authorize the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority and the North County Transit District to adopt and enforce
such an ordinance. The bill would provide that a person cited under
these ordinances adopted by transit operators shall be afforded an
opportunity to complete the administrative process under the
circumstances set forth in the ordinance. The bill would require an
entity that adopts such an ordinance to submit a report to specified
committees of the Legislature both 2 and 5 years after the adoption
of the ordinance, as specified.
Existing law requires fare evasion and passenger misconduct
violation penalties collected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority to be deposited in the general fund of the
County of Los Angeles.
This bill, with respect to penalties collected by the Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, would instead require
the penalties to be deposited in the general fund of the county in
which the citation is administered. The bill would require those
penalties collected by the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority to also be deposited in the general fund of the county in
which the citation is administered and would require penalties
collected by the North County Transit District to be deposited in the
general fund of the County of San Diego.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 640 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
640. (a) (1) Any of the acts described in paragraphs (1) to (5),
inclusive, of subdivision (b) is an infraction punishable by a fine
not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and by community
service for a total time not to exceed 48 hours over a period not to
exceed 30 days, during a time other than during the violator's hours
of school attendance or employment. Any of the acts described in
paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (c), upon a first or
second violation, is an infraction punishable by a fine not to
exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and by community service for
a total time not to exceed 48 hours over a period not to exceed 30
days, during a time other than during the violator's hours of school
attendance or employment. A third or subsequent violation of any of
the acts described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of
subdivision (c) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more
than four hundred dollars ($400) or by imprisonment in a county jail
for a period of not more than 90 days, or by both that fine and
imprisonment. Any of the acts described in subdivision (d) shall be
punishable by a fine of not more than four hundred dollars ($400), by
imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than 90 days,
or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(2) This section shall apply only to acts committed on or in a
facility or vehicle of a public transportation system.
(b) (1) Eating or drinking in or on a system facility or vehicle
in areas where those activities are prohibited by that system.
(2) Disturbing another person by loud or unreasonable noise.
(3) Smoking in or on a system facility or vehicle in areas where
those activities are prohibited by that system.
(4) Expectorating upon a system facility or vehicle.
(5) Skateboarding, roller skating, bicycle riding, roller blading,
or operating a motorized scooter or similar device, as defined in
Section 407.5 of the Vehicle Code in a system facility, vehicle, or
parking structure. This paragraph does not apply to an activity that
is necessary for utilization of the transit facility by a bicyclist,
including, but not limited to, an activity that is necessary for
parking a bicycle or transporting a bicycle aboard a transit vehicle,
if that activity is conducted with the permission of the transit
agency in a manner that does not interfere with the safety of the
bicyclist or other patrons of the transit facility.
(c) (1) Evasion of the payment of a fare of the system. For
purposes of this section, fare evasion includes entering an enclosed
area of a public transit facility beyond posted signs prohibiting
entrance without obtaining valid fare, in addition to entering a
transit vehicle without valid fare.
(2) Misuse of a transfer, pass, ticket, or token with the intent
to evade the payment of a fare.
(3) (A) Unauthorized use of a discount ticket or failure to
present, upon request from a transit system representative,
acceptable proof of eligibility to use a discount ticket, in
accordance with Section 99155 of the Public Utilities Code and posted
system identification policies when entering or exiting a transit
station or vehicle. Acceptable proof of eligibility must be clearly
defined in the posting.
(B) In the event that an eligible discount ticket user is not in
possession of acceptable proof at the time of request, any citation
issued shall be held for a period of 72 hours to allow the user to
produce acceptable proof. If the proof is provided, the citation
shall be voided. If the proof is not produced within that time
period, the citation shall be processed.
(d) (1) Willfully disturbing others on or in a system facility or
vehicle by engaging in boisterous or unruly behavior.
(2) Carrying an explosive, acid, or flammable liquid in a public
transit facility or vehicle.
(3) Urinating or defecating in a system facility or vehicle,
except in a lavatory. However, this paragraph shall not apply to a
person who cannot comply with this paragraph as a result of a
disability, age, or a medical condition.
(4) Willfully blocking the free movement of another person in a
system facility or vehicle. This paragraph shall not be interpreted
to affect any lawful activities permitted or First Amendment rights
protected under the laws of this state or applicable federal law,
including, but not limited to, laws related to collective bargaining,
labor relations, or labor disputes.
(5) Willfully tampering with, removing, displacing, injuring, or
destroying any part of any facility or vehicle of a public
transportation system.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the City and County of San
Francisco, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the Sacramento Regional
Transit District, Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, the North
County Transit District, and the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit
District may enact and enforce an ordinance providing that a person
who is the subject of a citation for any of the acts described in
subdivision (b) or (c) on or in a facility or vehicle described in
subdivision (a) for which the City and County of San Francisco, the
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the
Southern California Regional Rail Authority, the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority, the Sacramento Regional Transit District,
Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, the North County Transit
District, or the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District has
jurisdiction shall, under the circumstances set forth by the
ordinance, be afforded an opportunity to complete an administrative
process that imposes only an administrative penalty enforced in a
civil proceeding. The ordinance for imposing and enforcing the
administrative penalty shall be governed by Chapter 8 (commencing
with Section 99580) of Part 11 of Division 10 of the Public Utilities
Code and shall not apply to minors.
(f) For purposes of this section, a "facility or vehicle of a
public transportation system" means any of the following:
(1) A facility or vehicle of a public transportation system as
defined by Section 99211 of the Public Utilities Code.
(2) A facility of, or vehicle operated by any entity subsidized
by, the Department of Transportation.
(3) A facility or vehicle of the Southern California Regional Rail
Authority, whether owned or leased.
(4) A leased or rented facility or vehicle for which any of the
entities described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) incurs costs of
cleanup, repair, or replacement as a result of any of those acts.
SEC. 2. Section 99580 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
99580. (a) Pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of
Section 640 of the Penal Code, the City and County of San Francisco,
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the
Southern California Regional Rail Authority, the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority, the Sacramento Regional Transit District,
Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, the North County Transit
District, and the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District may enact and
enforce an ordinance to impose and enforce an administrative penalty
for any of the acts described in subdivision (b). The ordinance
shall include the provisions of this chapter and shall not apply to
minors.
(b) (1) Evasion of the payment of a fare of the system.
(2) Misuse of a transfer, pass, ticket, or token with the intent
to evade the payment of a fare.
(3) Playing sound equipment on or in a system facility or vehicle.
(4) Smoking, eating, or drinking in or on a system facility or
vehicle in those areas where those activities are prohibited by that
system.
(5) Expectorating upon a system facility or vehicle.
(6) Willfully disturbing others on or in a system facility or
vehicle by engaging in boisterous or unruly behavior.
(7) Carrying an explosive or acid, flammable liquid, or toxic or
hazardous material in a system facility or vehicle.
(8) Urinating or defecating in a system facility or vehicle,
except in a lavatory. However, this paragraph shall not apply to a
person who cannot comply with this paragraph as a result of a
disability, age, or a medical condition.
(9) (A) Willfully blocking the free movement of another person in
a system facility or vehicle.
(B) This paragraph shall not be interpreted to affect any lawful
activities permitted or first amendment rights protected under the
laws of this state or applicable federal law, including, but not
limited to, laws related to collective bargaining, labor relations,
or labor disputes.
(10) Skateboarding, roller skating, bicycle riding, or roller
blading in a system facility, including a parking structure, or in a
system vehicle. This paragraph does not apply to an activity that is
necessary for utilization of a system facility by a bicyclist,
including, but not limited to, an activity that is necessary for
parking a bicycle or transporting a bicycle aboard a system vehicle,
if that activity is conducted with the permission of the agency of
the system in a manner that does not interfere with the safety of the
bicyclist or other patrons of the system facility.
(11) (A) Unauthorized use of a discount ticket or failure to
present, upon request from a system representative, acceptable proof
of eligibility to use a discount ticket, in accordance with Section
99155, and posted system identification policies when entering or
exiting a system station or vehicle. Acceptable proof of eligibility
must be clearly defined in the posting.
(B) In the event that an eligible discount ticket user is not in
possession of acceptable proof at the time of request, an issued
notice of fare evasion or passenger conduct violation shall be held
for a period of 72 hours to allow the user to produce acceptable
proof. If the proof is provided, that notice shall be voided. If the
proof is not produced within that time period, that notice shall be
processed.
(c) (1) The City and County of San Francisco, the Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority, the Sacramento Regional Transit District,
the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Long Beach Transit,
Foothill Transit, the North County Transit District, and the
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District may contract with a private
vendor or governmental agency for the processing of notices of fare
evasion or passenger conduct violation, and notices of delinquent
fare evasion or passenger conduct violation pursuant to Section
99581.
(2) For the purpose of this chapter, "processing agency" means
either of the following:
(A) The agency issuing the notice of fare evasion or passenger
conduct violation and the notice of delinquent fare evasion or
passenger conduct violation.
(B) The party responsible for processing the notice of fare
evasion or passenger conduct violation and the notice of delinquent
violation, if a contract is entered into pursuant to paragraph (1).
(3) For the purpose of this chapter, "fare evasion or passenger
conduct violation penalty" includes, but is not limited to, a late
payment penalty, administrative fee, fine, assessment, and costs of
collection as provided for in the ordinance.
(4) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the processing agency in the City and County of San
Francisco shall be deposited to the general fund of the City and
County of San Francisco.
(5) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Long Beach Transit or Foothill Transit shall be
deposited in the general fund of the County of Los Angeles.
(6) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority shall be deposited in the general fund of the county in
which the citation is administered.
(7) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority shall be
deposited in the general fund of the County of Santa Clara.
(8) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Sacramento Regional Transit District shall be
deposited in the general fund of the County of Sacramento.
(9) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District shall be
deposited in the general fund of the county in which the citation is
administered.
(10) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority shall be
deposited in the general fund of the county in which the citation is
administered.
(11) All fare evasion and passenger conduct violation penalties
collected by the North County Transit District shall be deposited in
the general fund of the County of San Diego.
(d) (1) If a fare evasion or passenger conduct violation is
observed by a person authorized to enforce the ordinance, a notice of
fare evasion or passenger conduct violation shall be issued. The
notice shall set forth the violation, including reference to the
ordinance setting forth the administrative penalty, the date of the
violation, the approximate time, and the location where the violation
occurred. The notice shall include a printed statement indicating
the date payment is required to be made, and the procedure for
contesting the notice. The notice shall be served by personal service
upon the violator. The notice, or copy of the notice, shall be
considered a record kept in the ordinary course of business of the
issuing agency and the processing agency, and shall be prima facie
evidence of the facts contained in the notice establishing a
rebuttable presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence.
(2) When a notice of fare evasion or passenger conduct violation
has been served, the person issuing the notice shall file the notice
with the processing agency.
(3) If a person contests a notice of fare evasion or passenger
conduct violation, the issuing agency shall proceed in accordance
with Section 99581.
(e) In setting the amounts of administrative penalties for the
violations listed in subdivision (b), the City and County of San
Francisco, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, the
Sacramento Regional Transit District, the Southern California
Regional Rail Authority, Long Beach Transit, Foothill Transit, the
North County Transit District, and the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit
District shall not establish penalty amounts that exceed the maximum
fine amount set forth in Section 640 of the Penal Code.
(f) A person who receives a notice of fare evasion or passenger
conduct violation pursuant to this section shall not be subject to
citation for a violation of Section 640 of the Penal Code.
(g) If an entity enacts an ordinance pursuant to this section it
shall, both two years and five years after enactment of the
ordinance, report all of the following information to the Senate
Committee on Transportation and Housing and the Assembly Committee on
Transportation:
(1) A description of the ordinance, including the circumstances
under which an alleged violator is afforded the opportunity to
complete the administrative process.
(2) The amount of the administrative penalties.
(3) The number and types of citations administered pursuant to the
ordinance.
(4) To the extent available, a comparison of the number and types
of citations administered pursuant to the ordinance with the number
and types of citations issued for similar offenses and administered
through the courts both in the two years prior to the ordinance and,
if any, since enactment of the ordinance.
(5) A discussion of the effect of the ordinance on passenger
behavior.
(6) A discussion of the effect of the ordinance on revenues to the
entity described in subdivision (a) and, in consultation with the
superior courts, the cost savings to the county courts. The superior
courts are encouraged to collaborate on and provide data for this
report.
