Wewanttoprovidesafe,Reliable,Convenient,Andefficientpublictransportationforthesafetyandcomfortof

SouthPortland BusService

-RulesofConductandInappropriateBehavior-

Wewanttoprovidesafe,reliable,convenient,andefficientpublictransportationforthesafetyandcomfortof allourpassengers. Sometypesofbehaviorandactionsareinappropriateinhelpingusmeetthatgoal.Bus drivershavebeenauthorizedtoprovideyouwiththishandoutthatsummarizes therulesthat havebeenadoptedbytheSouthPortlandCityCouncil.

Therulesapplyonbuses,attransferhubs,inshelters,atbusstops,andotherBusServicefacilities

LevelIInappropriateConductonBuses.Personswillbegivenawarningbythe Bus Driver. If challenged,thedriverwillpresentthemwiththishandout. IffurtherwarningbytheBusDriverisnecessary,aDispatcherISupervisormaybecontacted.TheDispatcherISupervisorisauthorizedtotellthepassengertoleavethebus.AnindividualwhodeclinestoleaveabusafterbeingorderedtodosobytheDispatcherISupervisorissubjecttoarrestandprosecutionfortrespassingandordisorderlyconduct.TheDispatcherISupervisorisauthorizedtorequestpoliceassistance.Continuousrepeatinfractionsmayresultinexclusion frombuses. Theseinclude:

•Refusingtovacatedesignatedfrontseatsanddesignatedwheelchairareasinbusesforseniorcitizensandpeoplewithdisabilitieswhenrequestedbythosepersonsorbythedriverontheirbehalf.

•Eatingordrinkingwiththeexceptionofbusoperatorswhohavepermissiontodosowhenvehiclesare notinmotion.

•Usinganaudiodevice(e.g.portableradio,tape,CDplayer,TV,etc.),unlesssuchequipmentisusedwithearphonessothatsoundislimitedtoperson'sownlisteningonly

•Standinginfrontofthestandeelineatthefrontofthebusnearthedriver'sseat.

•Bringinganyanimalonbusesun-caged,exceptserviceanimalsthatassistthosewithdisabilities.Cagedanimalsmustfitoncustomer'slap.

•Bringingon-boardanylargearticles,packages,baggage,non-collapsiblestrollersorbabybuggieswhichblocktheaisleandrestrictthefreemovementofpassengers.Passengersarelimitedtoonenon-leakingbagofreturnablebottles;"doublebagging"maybenecessarytoeliminatespillage.

•Engaginginindecent,profane,boisterous,unreasonablyloudorotherwisedisorderlyconductundercircumstancesinwhichsuchconducttendstocauseorprovokeadisturbance.Thisisnotintendedtoprohibitordinaryconversationbetweenpassengersinnormalconversationaltones.

•HavingdistractingconversationswithBusDrivers.

•Engaginginunauthorizedcanvassing,selling,solicitingordistributinganymaterialon-boardbuses.

•Changingachild'sdiaper.

•Exhibitinginappropriatepersonalhygiene,i.e.,anindividualwhosebodilyhygieneissooffensiveastoconstituteanuisancetootherpassengers.

•Boardingunattendedminors:childrenfiveyearsofageandundermustbecloselyaccompaniedatalltimesbyanolderresponsibleindividual.

•Roller-skating,roller-blading,orskateboardingonbuses.

•Hangingorswingingfromstanchionsorotherbusequipmentwithfeetoffthefloor.

•Hangingout,reachingout,orputtinganythingoutofbuswindows.

•Willfullyrefusingtopayafare,orshowspecificfaremediatothebusoperator.

•UsingoforbringingaSegway(orlikedevice)onthebus.

•Otherwisedisorderlyorinappropriate conductwhichisinconsistentwiththeorderlyandcomfortable useofbusesfortheirintendedpurpose

Page1 ThisisasummaryofSouthPortlandCityCouncilOrder#15-08/09,July21,2008.

LevelIIInappropriateConductonBusesorinOtherFacilities.ThesearemoreseriousthanLevelI.ABusDriverorDispatcherISupervisorisauthorizedtotellthepersontogetoffthebusorleavethefacilityimmediately.TheBusDriverisauthorizedtorequestpoliceassistanceifnecessary.Theseoffensesmayalso subjectthepassengertobeingexcludedfromridingthebus.Furtherlegalactionmaybetaken.Thefollowingconductisprohibited:

•Smokingonbuses.

•Fighting.

•Possessing unlawful weapons or firearms.

•Displaying in a threatening manner a firearm, slingshot, knuckles, bowie knife, dirk, stiletto or other dangerous or deadly weapon.

•Bringinganyitemsofadangerousnatureon-boardbusesincluding:flammableliquids;dangerous,toxicorpoisonoussubstances;vesselscontainingcausticmaterials,chemicals,acidsoralkalis;fishingrodswhicharenotbroken downorhaveunsecuredorexposedhooksorlures,skipolesunlesssecured toskisorhavetipcovers; sheet glassandsharpobjects.Fencingfoilsmustbesheathedandleftatthefrontof thebuswiththebusoperator.

•Behaviorthatisdisruptive,harassing,orthreatening. Thisincludesfollowingorstalkingpassengers oremployees.

•Causingsoundsthatareunreasonableandhighlydisruptive,including,butnotlimitedto:prolongedloud,abusive,indecent,profaneordrunkenconduct.

•Misuseoffaremedia.

•Drinkingalcoholicbeveragesorpossessingopencontainersofalcoholicbeverages.

•Otherwisedisorderlyorinappropriateconductwhichisinconsistentwiththesafeandorderlyuseoftransitfacilitiesfortheirintendedpurpose.

LevelIII Inappropriate Conduct -Emergency Situations.Anemergencysituationiswhenanindividual'sactionspresentanimminentdangertothelifeorsafetyofhim/herselforothers,ortocityproperty.TheBusDriverisauthorizedtorequestimmediatepoliceassistance.Anindividualfoundtohaveengagedinanyofthefollowingactivitieswillbeexcludedfromtransitbusesorfacilities:

•Useofcounterfeitorstolenfaremedia.

•Assaultorthreatofassault.

•Stealingorwillfullydamaging,defacingordestroyingCityproperty.

•Lightinganincendiarydevicesuchasamatch,lighter,torch,etc.

•ObstructingorinterferingwiththeBusDriver’ssafeoperationofthebus.

•Indecentexposure.

•Enteringorremainingonthebusafterhavingbeentoldnottodoso,orboardingorremainingonthe

busduringtheperiodwhenanindividualhasbeenbannedfromthebus.

TransitExclusionProcedure and AppealsProcess.Thereisaproceduretoformallynotifyapersoninwritingofthereasontheyhavebeenexcludedfromridingthebusandthedurationoftheexclusion.Thereisalsoanappealsprocess.Ifanindividualsubjecttoanexclusionorderentersthespecifiedfacilitiesorservicesbeforethereturndatelistedintheexclusionletter,policewillbecalledandthepersonwillbesubjecttoarrestand/orprosecutionunderCityordinances.

Wewantpeopletoridethebusandprefernotto excludeanyone.Thispolicyisinplacetomakeourbusesandfacilitiessafe,comfortable,accessible,andwelcomingforallourpassengers.

Formoreinformationorquestions: Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttherulesortheirenforcement,orwanttoreceivethecompletepolicystatement,pleasecontacttheBusServiceofficebyphoneat767-5556ore-mail.

Page2 ThisisasummaryofSouthPortlandCityCouncilOrder#15-08/09,July21,2008.