Calgary considering policing non-destination loitering, age verification on tran

A committee of the Calgary city council will consider amending the transit bylaw to toughen penalties for fare evasion and improve safety.

The Community Development Committee has been assigned the responsibility of deciding whether or not to enact certain modifications to the bylaw that govern and oversee the behaviour of passengers on public transportation and guarantee the security of both employees and users.


The bylaw addresses forbidden behaviours and establishes guidelines for using the transit system. When required, transit peace officers enlist the assistance of Calgary police officers to enforce the bylaw.


The inclusion of a definition for loitering and an offence for using transportation for non-destination purposes is one of the modifications under consideration. This would imply that police will respond when someone is use public transportation for an extended length of time without intending to get at their destination, even if they have paid a fee. The city anticipates that this adjustment will enable peace officers to better control behaviour and file charges as necessary.


Modifications might also be made to include a fee for forging or tampering with a legitimate pass. Reducing fare evasion and promoting fare compliance are the objectives of this modification.

The city is also thinking about granting transit peace officers the power to request identification in order to reject allegations that someone is 12 years of age or younger in order to deny them a free pass. When interacting with minors, officers will exercise judgment.

Additionally, there can be fines for having
a weapon when using public transportation, as well as to threaten, harass, and intimidate employees, customers, and operators verbally.

Additionally, the possibility of allowing bikes on CTrains during rush hours is being considered.
Read more:
https://calgary.citynews.ca/2024/09/11/calgary-transit-bylaw-evasion-safety-amendments/

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