Jail Time for Not Paying Rapidride Fare
The other morning I had the joy of taking the 150 to downtown. This means I was subjected to bizarro conversation while waiting for the bus to arrive. Yes, I could have put my earbuds in, but if I had I would have missed this gem: “You best believe they will ticket yo ass and you could go to jail if you don’t tap that Orca Card.”
I was late getting in because of an appointment. When I walked down to take the 169 to get to Kent Station, I saw a familiar face. It was the guy who lays down at my bus stop. It’s a grassy small hill with no bench or shelter. He drapes himself over the grass and waits for the bus. He almost earned a spot on a blog post earlier in the week, lounging under the Metro sign while the cars rushed past. Kicked up on the side of the street. It was almost poetic, but really, it’s just weird.
He and I started talking and it turns out he’s really cool and quite normal. We were discussing possible routes to the Tukwila Park & Ride. Changes are coming to the Metro routes to our area (don’t get me started on that), and we’re all looking for re-routes. I enjoyed the fact he knew the routes and had info about the new RapidRide F-Line to Southcenter.
It’s like Metro thought of me when they labeled that RapidRide the F-Line. I’m certain I’ll be on it and cracking jokes about it with the sketchy 150 people who got shoved out of their bus by the former Express bus people.
Mmm hmm...always there 20 minutes late, from what I understand.
Anyway, a dude walked up to us and got in our conversation. He argued with us about the RapidRide and Sounder trains, insisting they are $1.75 per trip. Come to find out he has a reduced fare pass, so he was sort of right. For those without the reduced fare deal it’s $3.25 per way.
Not only was he wrong and somewhat irritating, he wore a Mandarin collared shirt. There’s nothing that screams shady as fuck quite like a man in a Mandarin collared shirt.
"Look at me in my Mandarin collar! I am a douche totale. Oui Oui."
Unsatisfied with our lack of interest, he retreated and retuned.
His next argument was about the Sounder train, Link Light Rail, and RapidRide fares. You have to tap your Orca card on the Orca card reader before you board and as you get off. At least on the Sounder train and Link Light Rail you do – I’ve never taken a RapidRide (!). I checked the RapidRide website, and it seems like you can use a transfer or cash on them as well as tap your Orca card on the reader at the bus shelter. You could also tap the Orca card on the bus when you enter. So really, the RapidRide is much easier than the train or Light Rail because once you’re on those you can’t pay.
If you don’t tap your card or prove you paid otherwise, the Fare Enforcement Cops on board will scan your Orca card and give you a warning or a ticket. If you get a warning, the cops take a digital copy of your photo I.D. You can’t get another warning for a year after they scan your I.D. or else you will get a ticket. Maybe they’ll banish you altogether. You never know. The odds of them kicking you out at the next station for non-payment are high.
If you get a ticket, it’s $126, a total screwer because the fare is only $3.25. Also, if you forget to tap the card when you get off the train, Light Rail, or RapidRide, you can be charged for different zones, just as if you never left the bus. It’s a much better deal to just pay the fare, even if the train has just pulled up and you know if you take that 30 seconds extra to tap your card you will end up sitting backwards all the way to Seattle.
The conversation took a turn and surprised me. That usually doesn’t happen, because I automatically expect weird chats while waiting for the bus.
Man: “You best believe they will ticket yo ass and you could go to jail if you don’t tap that Orca card. Believe it – The day that ticket arrives in the mail and tells you a court date and the total, that’s a bad day.”
Me and Guy from Bus Stop: [nodding in agreement]
Man: “And when that court judge ‘axes’ you if you have $127 and you don’t, that is a bad feeling. Then they’ll ask you again if you can pay it. If you don’t they haul yo ass to jail.”
[Horn honks from a car in the street] Lady: “Haaay honey!”
Man: “Oh haaay, Baby! How you been?” He goes over and talks to her for a minute.
Me: [laughs] “Seriously?! You went to jail for that?”
Man: “Yes. It was no fun at all.”
Me: “You’re joking!”
Man: “Nope. When you’re in jail, each day counts as $10 toward a fine. Trust me. I do know.”
We were laughing about it, but that guy swears he did jail time for sneaking on the RapidRide and telling a terrible lie to the Fare Enforcement cops about “forgetting to tap his card and not having any cash.” I counted four ways to pay on the RapidRide, so maybe the cops locked him up because he’s a moron.
I have also heard if you forget to tap your card because you forgot your wallet, you are in super trouble. The Fare Enforcement cops will detain you and if you don’t have a photo I.D. to prove your identity who knows what could happen. Or maybe they’ll just leave yo ass at Tukwila Station.
When you get off the bus at University Street Station, they have a really cool ad for Icelandic Air that runs the length of the exit tunnel. It looks appealing, except the upside down plane flying into a ring of midnight sun flames. Whoever designed this ran into a lose-lose design situation with the sunset portion of the program.
Scratch & Sniff – Eastside Style
Anyone who has ever been on a bus going to or from the Eastside knows it’s a totally different experience than riding a downtown or South End bus. Everything is clean, people are polite and happy to play with their iPads – without the fear of having their electronics snatched from their manicured hands.
I’m just jealous that I don’t live on a quiet, tree-lined street in Woodinville.
In any case, a good friend of mine was on the 255 from the Brickyard to downtown the other morning. Have I already written about how much I love saying “The Brickyard?” I do. Seriously. I don’t say it in a normal tone. I say it in Monster Truck tone because it sounds like a place where monster trucks would obliterate rows of old cars. Kinda like “The Boneyard” or something. “Who wants to take the 255 to The Briiiickyaaard?!”
"Graaavediggger at the Briiiiickyard!"
Sadly, it’s nothing but a quiet little Park & Ride.
So, about the report from my friend…. She got on at the South Kirkland Park & Ride. Again, ho hum, no Gravedigger. Among the quiet, sane people there was a man on the 255 who had a scruffy beard and long hair and a ponytail.
Stop right there.
That’s gross.
This man carried on a conversation with himself the entire trip into the city. He was wearing pajamas. Despite the condition he was in (both physically and mentally), he knew it was time to clean up a little. He decided to pretty up before he got to town. He produced a stick of deodorant and swabbed his hairy armpits. He mopped away the night’s adventures, the torment of his meds wearing off, the faint memory of a woman named Jessica from 1997. All with two good caresses of that Arrid XX.
Is that not enough for you? Okay. Once the deodorant was applied, he sniffed his pits. Perhaps he did so just make sure it “took.”
He got off at the first downtown stop, ready to take on the day all fresh-like. After all, the weather has been getting warmer lately.
At least the 255 man wasn't using Arrid cream. Ewww.
