Calgary council approves transit bylaw amendments [Video]

Calgary council has approved changes to the city’s transit bylaw that will double fines for intimidation and crack down on riders who loiter.  

Council unanimously passed seven amendments to Transit Bylaw 4M81 on Tuesday in an effort to boost public safety.

The changes include:

• A revised definition of “loitering” to empower peace officers to addressing potentially unsafe situations while ensuring that any actions taken are fair and appropriate;
• A new offence to address loitering and suspicious behaviour by individuals who have paid the fare but are not using transit for its intended purpose;
• A new offence for verbal harassment, threats and intimidation aimed at transit operators, riders and staff;
• Increased fines for harassment, threats or intimidation directed at operators, riders and staff;
• A new offence for tampering with or making fake copies of valid transit passes;
• The authority for transit peace officers to ask riders for proof of age. This amendment will prevent …