The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has implemented stricter hiring standards for all job applicants, including applicants for frontline and safety sensitive positions. The new standards went into effect earlier this month.

“Our frontline employees are the face of Metro,” said Metro GM John Catoe. “We want the strongest applicants for every open position. These new hiring standards are meant to help us find only the best and brightest employees to help move more than one million customers each day.”

Under the new hiring standards, job applicants for frontline positions will be disqualified from the applicant pool for any of the following:

• One or more moving violations within the last three years for negligent, careless or reckless driving.

• Driver’s license revocations or suspensions due to moving violations within three years.

• More than two points on their driver’s license within three years.

• Any occurrence of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within three years.

• A felony conviction within the last 10 years.

• Two or more misdemeanor convictions for drug possession or a crime against person, property or society within the last 10 years.

• A criminal conviction for crimes of violence and/or sexual abuse or sexual assault.

All other applicants, including those applying for safety-sensitive positions and jobs with fiduciary duties, will be disqualified from the applicant pool for any felony conviction within the last five years, and for two or more misdemeanor convictions for drug possession or any crime against person, property or society within the last five years.

Under the previous hiring standards, job applicants for frontline positions were disqualified for:

• Driver’s license revocations or suspensions due to moving violations within three years.

• More than two points on their driver’s license within three years.

• Two felony convictions within three years or three felony convictions within 10 years for any crime against person, property or society.

Misdemeanor convictions were considered on a case-by-case basis, including the nature of the offense, time lapse since the offense and efforts at rehabilitation. Applicants with drug-related violations were considered if the applicant was able to show rehabilitation for the year immediately preceding the application.