SEPTA Bans Full Head, Face Covering Masks Amid Recent Violence

PHILADELPHIA — As SEPTA and city authorities deal with violence on the transit system, officials Thursday announced a ban on full head and face coverings on SEPTA buses, trolleys, and trains.

SEPTA Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson announced the ban during a news conference regarding the deadly shooting on a Route 23 bus Wednesday night.

The gunman in Wednesday's shooting was wearing a full head and face covering, he said.

Commonly known as "shiesty" masks, Lawson said anyone entering SEPTA wearing balaclavas or ski masks will be stopped by police.

"If you come on SEPTA property wearing your shiesty, you will be engaged by police," he said. "You've got two choices: remove it or we escort you off the property."

Lawson said despite those masks covering large portions of people's faces, they do not make identifying suspects that difficult.

"These full-head coverings are a major issue because we are seeing it routinely being worn in 80-degree weather in Philadelphia," he said. "There is no legitimate reason, pandemic withstanding, to wear a full head covering in public for anything."