Starting March 31, Seattle’s King County Metro Fare Enforcement Officers will ask riders for proof of fare payment on buses and streetcars, with “friendly, verbal reminders” set to be given to riders who did not pay.

Metro first will focus fare inspections on RapidRide routes, other high-ridership bus routes. and the Seattle Streetcar.

“Metro relies on fares to provide safe, clean and reliable transit service; however, we estimate that one-third or more of our riders are not paying their fare,” said Metro’s Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhauser. “By restarting fare enforcement, we’re confident that many of our riders will return to their habits of tapping their ORCA cards or paying at the farebox.”

Metro’s Fare Enforcement Plan

Metro will deploy 30 Fare Enforcement Officers across the system from among the ranks of 175 Transit Security Officers.

The agency paused fare enforcement in 2020 to reassess and reimagine safety, security, and fare enforcement to make the transit system more equitable and welcoming. 

Today, the agency often provides more than 300,000 rides each weekday and in 2024 bus ridership was about 90 million systemwide. Metro fares accounted for an estimated $73 million in revenue in 2024.

Metro’s adult fare is currently $2.75. Beginning March 31, Fare Enforcement Officers will accept proof of payment in the form of:

• A recently tapped ORCA fare card.

• An activated Transit GO Ticket on their phone.

• A tapped ORCA card in Google Wallet.

• A transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash at the farebox.

Metro explained that paying with an ORCA card provides information about ridership, which helps the agency serve them better. 

Warnings, Fines, and More

Fare inspection will fully resume starting on May 31. At that time, in place of verbal reminders, riders who do not have valid proof of payment will receive a written warning. 

Riders can receive two of these written warnings without consequence. However, third and subsequent citations may result in a fine or an alternative resolution. Alternative resolutions help ensure fairness. For example, if someone cannot afford to pay a fare, they cannot afford to pay a fine.

For third and subsequent violations, the rider may choose from the following:

• Pay a fine of $40 within 90 days, reduced to $20 within 30 days.

• Load $20 onto an ORCA card or—if eligible—$10 onto a reduced fare program card.

• Enroll in a reduced fare program if eligible.

• Perform two hours of community service.

• Appeal to the Fare Adjudication Program Manager or request a customized resolution.

Redesigned Fare Inspection

Metro’s Safety, Security, and Fare Enforcement (SaFE) Reform Initiative collaborated with thousands of riders, community members and Metro employees to make our transit system more equitable, secure, and welcoming.

Metro’s SaFE Equity Workgroup led the redesign of fare inspection. 

While Metro has always been committed to an equitable approach to fare inspection, the SaFE Equity Workgroup guided additional changes. 

Some of the improvements include more affordable fines, more forgiving policies regarding late payments, and lower minimum amounts to load on ORCA or ORCA LIFT cards for riders pursuing one of the alternative resolution options. 

The workgroup also made important recommendations on communications strategy, community outreach, messaging, tone, and visuals.

This guided Metro’s relaunch of fare enforcement, as well as multilingual communications and outreach earlier this year to raise awareness of this change and to let riders know they may be eligible for a reduced fare.