OAKLAND, Calif. -- A new law aiming to create a safer, cleaner environment for BART riders and employees is being implemented. BART will hold a series of community meetings in February to inform the public about the law and seek feedback on its implementation.

The legislation that began as Assembly Bill 716 allows BART to issue a “prohibition order” against anyone who commits certain offenses on BART property, banning them for between 30 days and a year, depending on the offense. These offenses run the gamut of urinating in public to violent attacks against BART employees or customers.

BART joins two other transit districts, Sacramento Regional Transit District and Fresno Area Express, which have already implemented such a program. For details about this new law, visit www.bart.gov.

The public’s awareness and assistance with the new program will be an important factor in its success. BART officials invite the public to the following community meetings:

ALAMEDA COUNTY
Monday, February 11
6:00 p.m.
BART Citizen Review Board
BART Board Room - Kaiser Center
344 20th Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland
(2 blocks from the 19th Street /Oakland BART Station)

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Wednesday, February 13
6:30 p.m.
San Francisco Mental Health Board
Department of Public Health
101 Grove Street, Room 300, San Francisco
(2 blocks from the Civic Center/UN Plaza BART Station)

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Thursday, February 28
6:30 p.m.
Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission
El Cerrito City Hall
10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
(5 blocks from the El Cerrito del Norte BART Station)