Metro Steps Up Policing of Food Infractions

WASHINGTON - Remember a few years ago when that 12-year-old kid got arrested for eating a french fry on the subway? Suffice it to say, it's never a good idea to eat on the Metro.

Well, things are about to get a little more strict where public-transit snacking is concerned. There's a crackdown, and it is about to take effect. The target? So-called grubby riders.

"I have noticed (myself) and have received calls and letters that there has been an increase," says Metro General Manager John Catoe. "We are going to have a focused campaign from the standpoint of signs, from the standpoint of transit police notifying people and then citing people."

During the first nine months of 2007, more than 3,200 citations have been handed out to riders for food and drink violations. Fines usually total about $10.

Catoe is determined to clean up the system. "People are getting coffee spilled on them, or sitting in gum and that is not acceptable to us."

He has asked his police unit to set up this new initiative which should be rolling out in the coming weeks.

"When people eat on Metro, they bring on other unwanted passengers, critters," says Catoe.

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