The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) board voted to move eligible fare evasion citations out of criminal court and into an administrative penalty process.

The board approved the program on Oct. 15, according to an MTS press release. Once in effect, riders who receive eligible citations for fare evasion or certain passenger conduct violations would resolve them through an agency-run administrative review instead of the criminal court system. The process is similar to how San Diego handles parking tickets.

The change won't happen right away. MTS said it must first buy the technology, equipment and administrative services to run the program. The agency expects the transition to take about two years, with the new system in place by Jan. 1, 2029. Until then, eligible fare citations will continue through criminal court.

The shift matters for La Jolla commuters who ride the Blue Line trolley downtown. Josue Jaime, a first-year UC San Diego graduate student who takes the trolley between downtown and La Jolla twice a day, told the UCSD Guardian the new program seems fair. "It's better than how it is right now," he said.

Under the current system, fare citations move through criminal courts and can grow quickly if not paid within 120 days. In 2020, Voice of San Diego reported that a single fare citation could cost $193 once court fees were added, and missing a court date could tack on another $315, according to the Guardian.

The new program caps the total penalty at $125 per eligible citation, including late fees and collection fees, according to MTS. Unpaid citations can still be sent to collections, which could affect a rider's credit score. But the agency will also offer installment payments, deferred payments and community service for riders who cannot afford to pay.

Monica Montgomery Steppe, MTS chair pro tem and San Diego County supervisor, said in the press release that she has pushed for the change since 2019. "A $3 fare should not lead to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines and fees," she said.

Jaime said fare checks are still a regular part of riding. "In the morning I've never seen it, but at night I see it almost every time," he told the Guardian. He added that he would like MTS to make it harder to skip the fare in the first place.

"Right now it's very easy for people that don't pay the fare to get in," he said.