283 Stopped For Fare Evasion At Pentagon City Metro: Report

ARLINGTON, VA -- Nearly 300 people have been stopped for fare evasion at the Pentagon City Metro station in 2018, which places it in the top five for all stations in the Metrorail system out of 91 stations, according to a report.

NBC 4 reports that Pentagon City is at No. 4 on the list, just ahead of Hillcrest Heights with 270 fare evaders caught in 2018. It led all Metro stations in Virginia.

Gallery Place was the runaway leader in fare evasion, with a staggering 1,329 fare evaders reported this year, followed by Anacostia with 775. Columbia Heights placed third with 315.

At least 200 people have been stopped this year for fare evasion at the Southern Ave, Columbia Heights and Pentagon City stations. Metro Transit Police have stopped nearly 800 people at the Anacostia Station, and more than 1,300 at Gallery Place. https://t.co/o2hPpySd9u pic.twitter.com/xj7bDKKJp4
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) December 4, 2018

The report comes as the D.C. Council voted 10-2 to decriminalize Metro fare evasion -- previously, violators faced possible jail time and a fine of up to $300, but now the penalty would be just a $50 fine. Critics say this will encourage more abuse of a system that is badly in need of paying riders, while proponents argue that the law disproportionately targets the poor and people of color.

(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)