San Diego Transit Board Decriminalizes Fare Evasion

The board approved a move to replace criminal charges with administrative fines for transit violations starting in 2029.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Criminal Justice

Isometric editorial illustration of a metal transit turnstile on a clean platform, representing a shift in transit enforcement policy. — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System board voted to shift fare evasion from a criminal offense to an administrative citation process. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should transit agencies use administrative fines instead of criminal prosecution for fare evasion?

The Metropolitan Transit System board voted 11-3 to transition fare evasion, smoking, and other disturbances from criminal offenses to administrative citations. This change aims to spare low-income riders from permanent criminal records for minor infractions.

Why it matters

By shifting enforcement to an administrative process, the agency seeks to modernize its penalty structure and mirror common parking ticket models. Officials hope this move will provide a more proportionate response to transit violations without immediately involving the court system.

The new policy mandates a base fine of $75 for fare evasion with a maximum penalty of $125, replacing current court-involved fees that can reach $300. Violators remain subject to criminal prosecution starting on their third offense.

The players

Metropolitan Transit System

The Metropolitan Transit System is the primary public transit agency serving the San Diego region.

The details

The Metropolitan Transit System will implement an in-house citation process managed by a third-party vendor and a dedicated hearing officer system. This model replaces the current reliance on the state court system to process transit-related violations.

MTS created a hybrid fare evasion citation program in 2020.
The board approved the new administrative policy on October 8, 2026.
The agency expects the new administrative system to launch in 2029.
Annual deficits are projected to exceed $100 million starting in 2030.

Legal Context

Transit agencies across California are increasingly moving away from utilizing the state court system for minor ordinance violations. This trend follows recent legislative and policy shifts aiming to reduce the burden of criminal misdemeanor charges on low-income residents.

Riders will face an immediate increase in the base fine for fare evasion to $75 when the system launches. However, the move away from the court system provides an administrative pathway for appeals that avoids the complications of mandatory court appearances.

The takeaway

This policy change reflects a broader movement to treat transit compliance issues as civil matters rather than criminal offenses. Riders should be aware that while court involvement is decreasing, fines remain a standard enforcement tool for violations.