MARTA Board to Vote on New Rider Code of Conduct

The proposed code of conduct includes new authority by MARTA to suspend and ban riders for things like loud music, panhandling, and what MARTA CEO Keith Parker describes as “horseplay.”

The ACLU’s Chad Brock hasn’t been able to find the final draft proposal on MARTA’s website, but he says media reports have raised troubling questions about the due process rights of suspended riders.

“You’re talking about taking away someone’s access to transportation which is a fundamental need so we would prefer the burden remain on MARTA and at the very least if someone is accused of some sort of criminal or civil wrongdoing, if they are acquitted in court, then perhaps there should be some sort of automatic system to where their ridership is restored.”  

Brock is calling for more public input before the code is finalized.

MARTA spokesman Lyle Harris says MARTA officials have reached out to various community stakeholders over the last several months to create the code.

“We invite and encourage – and have been from the very outset – public input on this code of conduct and before the board votes our riders will have more than ample opportunity to tell us how they feel about it and share their opinions with us.”

Harris provided this brochure summarizing the proposed code. WABE also filed a request for the final draft proposal, but has yet to receive a copy.

MARTA says the code is based on similar policies in Seattle and Los Angeles. If the board approves the proposal, it’s expected to go into effect next month.