EVERETT — The Community Transit Board of Directors made changes to its code of conduct on Thursday to clarify language around enforcement of its rules.
The updated rules of conduct don’t make any substantive changes to the list of prohibited behaviors while at stations or on buses, but rather give further definition on how the agency will handle those behaviors, Community Transit wrote in a press release Friday.
The updated code of conduct gives new protections to individuals, adding due process language that states the agency will attempt to give warnings before taking an enforcement action like exclusion — which prohibits an individual from being on Community Transit property or using its services. Exclusions can be appealed.
Minor violations like littering and placing feet onto seats will lead to warnings, and repeated offenses can lead to exclusions. More severe offenses, such as harassment, hate crimes or assaults, can result in immediate exclusions as long as five years.
The new code of conduct also includes opportunities for embedded social workers to request the suspension or expungement of exclusions in specific cases, the new rules read. The rules of conduct now also apply to Community Transit’s Zip Shuttle microtransit services.
“The Rules of Conduct are foundational to Community Transit’s commitment to a culture of safety and security for all employees and customers,” Community Transit CEO Ric Ilgenfritz wrote in a release. “The revisions are based on learnings from interactions with employees and are in compliance with state and federal laws.”
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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