Idea of fines for BART seat hogs gains support at board meeting
Most of the transit agency’s directors expressed approval Thursday for colleague Joel Keller’s plan to let BART police cite patrons occupying more than one seat on packed trains.
The Board of Directors didn’t vote on the proposed ordinance, which was designed to free up a few extra seats during crowded commutes, but directors discussed the idea and most seemed to view it favorably.
Keller’s proposal, tentatively scheduled for a vote in two weeks, would authorize BART police to fine riders who take more than one seat when it would prevent other patrons from being able to sit down.
The language of the proposal simply makes it illegal to take more than a single seat.
The BART Police Officers Association, in a letter read by Director Robert Raburn, supported the ordinance but wanted directors to understand that it could lead to more train delays, conflicts with the homeless and possible use of force.