Behavior on transit property is primarily governed by California Penal Code (CPC) section 640 PC. There are other related statutes in the CPC and local governments. Policies of local law enforcement, including our current law provider, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, also affect enforcement.

The purpose of this policy is to define a customer code of conduct allowing Foothill Transit to maintain and operate a safe, efficient, and effective public transit system for the safety and comfort of all persons who interact with its public transit services. This policy also governs passenger conduct on Foothill Transit property that may affect Foothill Transit services. Passengers and the public may be denied services or access to facilities because of unacceptable conduct as described herein. 

Definitions:

1. Agency:
   The public transportation agency known as Foothill Transit. 
2. Agency Representative:
   All duly authorized agency staff members, including contracted Coach Operators, Supervisors, Managers, and contracted Security employees.
3. Agency Property:
   Buses and other public transportation system facilities owned, leased or operated by Foothill Transit. “Public transportation system” is defined by Section 99211 of the Public Utilities Code. 
4. Agency Facilities:
   All property and equipment of Foothill Transit, including, without limitation, inside and outside areas of Agency property, transit centers, transit stores, bus stops or shelters, transfer points, signage, and buses or other vehicles used to provide agency services. 
5. Public Area:
   Those portions of Foothill Transit facilities that are open for public use for transit or transit related purposes. 
6. Transit Services:
   Fixed route bus service and special event services. 
7. Inappropriate, Threatening, or Harassing Conduct:
   Any individual or group activity which is harassing,  disruptive or injurious to Agency employees, customers or other individuals lawfully using Agency Facilities or services; or which is damaging or destructive to transit facilities or services. A violation of local, state, or federal law may also constitute inappropriate conduct. The fact that an individual is or is not criminally or civilly charged or convicted of an incident of inappropriate conduct does not bar investigation and/or suspension under this policy.
8. Fare Media:
   The methods issued by or on behalf of Agency for payment of fare, including passes, cards, transfers, vouchers, and mobile ticketing. 

The following activities and/or behaviors are prohibited on Agency property, shall not be engaged in by persons utilizing or desiring to utilize Agency services, and may be cause for removal or suspension from Agency property or service.

Fares

• Refusing to pay a proper fare with cash or accepted fare media (including mobile ticketing).
• Boarding an Agency vehicle or entering other fare-required zones, without proof of valid fare media or without having adequate fare ready and paying fare upon boarding an Agency vehicle.  
• Falsely representing oneself as eligible for a waiver or a special or reduced fare, obtaining fare media by making false or misleading representation.  
• Boarding an Agency bus through a rear door to avoid payment.  
• Entering an Agency vehicle or facility in such a way as to bypass or avoid any fare- required zone and fare collection. (i.e., boarding through the rear door) 

Safety

• Refusing to remain stationary while the bus is in motion when a seat is available or standing in front of the standee line near the driver’s seat.  
• Using cellular phones and audible devices (i.e. portable radio, musical instruments, tape, CD player, TV, laptop, tablet, etc.), unless such equipment is used with head/earphones so that sound is limited to that person only, or with the volume muted. Cellular phones may not be used on external speaker mode.  
• Causing sounds that are unreasonable and highly disruptive to other individuals using Agency Facilities or services, including but not limited to: prolonged loud, abusive, indecent, profane, or drunken conduct.  
• Drinking alcoholic beverages or possessing open containers of alcoholic beverages.  
• Bringing on-board any non-collapsible strollers, baby buggies, walkers, or carts which block the aisle and restrict the free movement of passengers.  
• Bringing on-board buses any packages, bags, or articles that cannot be held in the lap of the passenger, other than bags of groceries or limited amounts of luggage that do not block the aisle and restrict the free movement of passengers.  
• Hanging excessive items on, or attached to, a mobility device, i.e. wheelchair, scooter, or walker. This creates potential unsafe securement. Oxygen bottles or tanks required for medical purposes must be properly secured and sized for the mobility device and placed in a location that does not restrict proper and safe securement of the device.  
• Improper placement of bicycles. The agency provides bicycle racks on fixed route buses. Bicycles placed on the bike racks cannot have improperly secured bags hanging from them. Bicycles left unattended will be removed and stored for 10 business days prior to disposal.  
• Unnecessary conversations with Coach Operators. Due to safety concerns with distracted driving, the agency prohibits Coach Operators from having non-business conversations with customers.
• Hanging or swinging from stanchions or other bus equipment with feet off the floor, or hanging out, reaching out, or putting anything out of bus windows. 

Civility and Compliance

• Eating or drinking on board agency buses.  
• Refusing to vacate designated seats and wheelchair areas on buses for senior citizens and people with disabilities when requested by those persons or by the driver/conductor on their behalf.  
• Vandalism, graffiti or damage of any kind to Agency facilities properties/buses/shelters etc. Such acts shall also be subject to criminal charges.  
• Bringing on board any bags of open or empty aluminum cans, plastic or glass bottles or any material that has an offensive odor or is leaking any liquids. 

Animals

• Improper containment and conduct of animals. Designated service animals must always be on leash and under control of the passenger. Passengers may be asked to provide information about the service animal’s tasks. 
• Denying seats to other passengers or blocking aisles due to animals or carriers.  
• Not promptly cleaning up animal waste from Agency vehicles and Facilities. 

In addition to the above, the following conduct is prohibited in all Agency facilities, including but not limited to, buses, transfer points, and bus stops. 

• Smoking, including vaping or use of any electronic or other smoking device, on agency buses, inside agency facilities, or outside designated smoking areas at Agency Facilities.
• Fighting, pushing, crowding, shoving, or initiating physical contact toward another passenger. Such conduct may result in the immediate removal of the violator from Agency facilities, potential permanent suspension of the violator’s use of Agency Facilities, and may be cause for law enforcement intervention.  
• Gambling or solicitation.  
• Behavior that is disruptive, harassing, or threatening in nature to agency customers or employees is prohibited. This includes following and/or stalking customers or employees.  
• Roller-skating, rollerblading, using scooters, or skateboarding.  
• Otherwise disorderly or inappropriate conduct which is inconsistent with the safe and orderly use of transit buses or facilities for their intended purpose. 

In addition to a violation of this policy, the following conduct on any Agency buses, or Facilities, including bus stops or platforms are cause for law enforcement intervention. 

• Use of counterfeit or stolen fare media (pass, transfer, ride card, or Foothill Transit ID).  
• Stealing or willfully damaging, defacing, or destroying Agency property. The Agency will prosecute anyone who steals or willfully damages, defaces, or destroys Agency property. 
• Lighting an incendiary device: e.g., match, lighter, torch or flare, except use of a match or lighter in designated smoking areas at all Agency Facilities.  
• Assault or threat of assault. Assault of a transit employee is subject to violation under Penal Code sections 241.3(a) and 243.3(a) and is punishable by fine or imprisonment. Such conduct will also result in the immediate removal of the violator from Agency Facilities and may lead to potential permanent suspension of the violator’s use of Agency Facilities.  
• Bringing any items of a dangerous nature on-board a bus or inside any agency facility, including but not limited to weapons (firearms, taser, knives or swords), flammable liquids; dangerous, toxic or poisonous substances, vessels containing caustic materials, chemicals, acids or alkalis.  
• Obstructing or interfering with the Coach Operator’s safe operation of the bus.  
• Indecent exposure, unwelcome touching, or lewd acts of any kind (passengers or employees).  
• Entering or remaining on Agency buses and inside Agency facilities or Agency property after having been notified by an authorized individual not to do so, or boarding or remaining on Agency buses, or property during the period when an individual has been suspended from all Agency property.  

• Agency facilities including, but not limited to, Agency transit centers exist for the convenience of passengers.  
• No person shall occupy or use any Agency facilities except for the purpose of boarding, disembarking, waiting for an agency bus, or conducting agency related/authorized business. Persons occupying Agency Facilities may be required to identify the intended agency route and destination upon the request of an agency employee or representative. Persons who fail to identify the intended Agency route or destination will be asked to leave the property. Persons loitering at Agency facilities longer than twenty minutes or until their bus arrives will be asked to leave the property.  
• No person occupying Agency facilities for the purpose of waiting to greet passengers on any arriving Agency bus shall fail or refuse to leave the facility promptly after the arrival of the Agency bus for which the person is waiting.  
• Presence of bodily fluids. Due to health and safety concerns, passengers who have bodily fluids, urine, feces, or blood on themselves or their clothing are prohibited from entering Agency facilities. 
• No person shall affix or post signs, stickers, buttons, advertisements, circulars, or other printed materials on an Agency Facilities. Written permission must be obtained from Agency prior to placing, posting, or displaying a posters, notices, advertisements, signs, or other written material on an Agency Facility.  
• Persons shall obey any sign intended to provide for the safety and security of transit passengers or transit systems.  
• Persons shall obey all other notices and signs posted by Agency on Agency Facilities.

The refusal to comply with the provisions above may lead to the removal of the violator from Agency property, Agency facilities, Agency Services, or other Transit Facilities. If a violator refuses to vacate the premises, Agency may contact law enforcement and the individual may be subject to arrest for trespassing. 

The following steps may be taken following agency representative’s determination that there have been documented incidents of conduct in violation of this policy for which a warning was issued, or one or more serious incidents of unacceptable conduct by an individual. Length of suspension, including whether such conduct would result in a permanent suspension, will be determined by the severity of the incident at Agency’s sole discretion.  

Prior to suspending any person from use of Agency property or services or imposing any restrictions on such person’s use of Agency property or services, an Agency representative will issue, or cause to be issued, to the person involved, a written suspension letter. The letter shall indicate the reasons for the suspension, the time period of the suspension, and the facilities and/or services made subject to safety conditions or restrictions. 

The person may appeal in writing within ten (10) days after the commencement of the suspension. An appeal shall contain a copy of the suspension notice, and a statement setting forth the reason that the suspension should be rescinded, altered, or reduced. The appeal must be mailed or delivered to the Deputy CEO c/o Foothill Transit, 100 South Vincent Avenue Suite 200 West Covina, CA 91790. The Deputy CEO or designee shall render a decision no later than ten (10) days after receipt of an appeal. 

If an individual subject to a suspension order enters the specified facilities or services before the return date listed in the suspension letter, law enforcement will be called and the individual will be subject to arrest for trespassing.

All Agency buses and Facilities are equipped with electronic surveillance devices/cameras used to view accidents, incidents and complaints received from the customers.