information from King County Metro

Starting March 31, King County Metro Fare Enforcement Officers will ask riders for proof of fare payment on buses and streetcars. Friendly, verbal reminders will 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,” Metro’s Chief Safety Officer Rebecca Frankhauser said. “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 will deploy 30 Fare Enforcement Officers across the system from among the ranks of 175 Transit Security Officers.

Metro 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 2024 bus ridership was about 90 million systemwide. Metro fares accounted for an estimated $73 million in revenue in 2024.

Proof of payment required

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, or
• a transfer slip issued to someone who paid cash at the farebox.

Many regional businesses provide their employees with ORCA cards. Employees who receive cards from their employers are still required to tap their cards and show proof of payment if asked by a Fare Enforcement Officer. Paying with an ORCA card provides information about our ridership that helps us serve them better and strong ridership data supports state funding for Metro. We encourage everyone to tap their ORCA card, even youth 18 and under who travel free. 

Because the freedom to move is a human right, Metro offers reduced and free fares to ensure everyone can take transit:

• Riders with lower incomes can get an ORCA LIFT card, which allows them to take Metro bus service for $1.
• Riders with disabilities and seniors are similarly able to ride a Metro bus for $1 with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP) card.
• All youth aged 18 and younger can ride for free and are encouraged to get an ORCA Youth card.
• Additionally, riders with the lowest incomes who are enrolled in certain government programs also can ride for free with the Subsidized Annual Pass.
• Please visit Metro’s Reduced Fare web page to learn more about these programs and take a quick, five-question quiz to determine which fare may be right for you.

Warnings, fines and alternative resolutions

Fare inspection will fully resume starting on May 31, 2025. 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.
• Youth who do not have proof of payment will not face a fine or alternative resolution, and will instead receive information on how to enroll in the Free Youth Transit Pass.

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.