Customer Service: Safety and Security
Crime Prevention Tips

Bus Safety Tips
Grade Crossing Safety Tips
Rail Safety Tips

GCRTA Transit Police Department
1240 West 6th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44113-1877
216-566-5163 (emergency)
216-566-5000 (business)

System Information	GCRTA Transit Police	Personal Safety	Waiting For A Bus Or Train
Safety For Children	Auto Safety	Thefts From Autos	Prohibited Acts

System Information

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is one of the largest transit systems in the United States. The system’s Transit Police Department is one of the largest in the county, employing over 110 uniformed and undercover officers. The Transit Police Department has developed this information page to help you and others have a safe trip when using RTA.

GCRTA Transit Police

The Transit Police Department was formed to serve and protect the more than 60 million passengers who ride the system yearly. The organization and operation of the department are similar to that of all local police agencies.

Transit Police respond to and investigate all crimes directly related to the GCRTA or occurring on GCRTA property, including the buses, trains, facilities and right-of-ways.

The majority of the officers are assigned to the 24-hour Uniformed Patrol Division. Uniformed officers ride the buses and trains, patrol routes, and are equipped with police cars for quick response to emergency situations.

Undercover officers also ride the buses and trains, survey the parking lots, and are utilized for specific crime problems.

The Transit Police Detective Bureau is responsible for the follow-up investigation of serious offenses.

Personal Safety

If you ever require assistance while riding the system, contact a uniformed RTA employee for help.

Emergency Call Boxes are in most Rapid Stations. These connect directly to the Transit Police Dispatcher.

If no Emergency Call Box is available, dial "911" on any payphone.

Always be alert and aware of the people around you.

Walk briskly and confidently to your destination.

Avoid talking to strangers — especially when in isolated areas.

Hold your purse tightly, close to your body. Keep your wallet in a front pocket, or button your hip pocket.

If you are the victim of a street crime, yell or scream but do not risk injury by fighting with or chasing your attacker.

Consider carrying a whistle or any type of noisemaker. If you’re in trouble, use it!

Reporting Crime

— If you or a family member become victimized by crime, give a full description of the incident to the police. It should include the location, the suspects’ physical build, clothing, any weapon seen and direction of flight by the suspect or suspects.

Become Involved! When you witness suspicious persons or activities, call the RTA Transit Police at 216-566-5163, 24 hours a day.

Waiting For A Bus Or Train

• Always be alert and aware of the people around you when waiting for a bus or train.
• Wait in well-lighted central locations, as near to other passengers as possible.
• Try to avoid isolated bus stops.
• Stand away from the curb until the bus arrives.
• If you see any suspicious activity while at a bus or train stop, report it to the bus or train operator. Ask the operator to call the Transit Police.
• Stand away from the edge of the platform until the train stops.

On Board Buses Or Trains

During off peak hours, ride as close to the bus or train operator as possible.

• Stay alert -- and be aware of the people around you.
• If someone bothers you, change seats and tell the operator!
• If you see any suspicious activity on an RTA bus or train, ask the operator to contact the Transit Police.
• If you are jostled in a crowd, be aware that pickpockets may targeting you.

(Pickpockets often work in teams. One member will often cause a distraction or disturbance, like dropping a handful of pennies. Stay alert!)

Safety For Children

Everyone must take precautions to ensure personal safety, but children face some special problems.

Children should beware if anyone:

• Tries to give them candy or money.
• Asks them to leave the bus or train.
• Asks them to get into a car, for any reason.
• Follows them.
• Attempts to touch them.

Instruct children to walk away or move to another seat if someone does any of these things.

Children should learn how to report incidents to authorities. They should be told to immediately tell the operator or a police officer what happened.

The Transit Police have a Kid Watch program that will come to your school or organization to assist in teaching them how to safely ride the RTA.

Auto Safety

If you are using one of our many Park-N-Ride lots, keep these precautions in mind:

• Always lock your car and close the windows after entering or leaving your car.
• Have your keys ready and check the back seat before opening the door.
• If you have car trouble in an RTA parking lot, contact the Transit Police. Help will be sent. Do not entrust your life and safety to a stranger.

Thefts From Autos

To lessen the possibility of theft from your auto:

• Install anti-theft door lock devices.
• Never leave valuables or packages in plain view.
• Engrave your driver’s license number on CB radios or easily removed tape decks,and record serial numbers.
• Install an intrusion alarm.
• Install a locking gas cap so a thief cannot siphon your gasoline.

Prohibited Acts

The Ohio Revised Code #2917.41 governs the conduct of transit passengers.

Section 2917.41

(Emphasis added)

1. No person shall evade the payment of the known fares of a public transportation system.
2. No person shall alter any transfer, pass, ticket, or token of a public transportation system with the purpose of evading the payment of fares or of defrauding the system.
3. No person shall do any of the following while in any facility or on any vehicle of a public transportation system:
   1. Play sound equipmentwithout the proper use of a private earphone;
   2. Smoke, eat, or drink in any area where the activity is clearly marked as being prohibited;
   3. Expectorate upon a person, facility, or vehicle.
4. No person shall write, deface, draw, or otherwise mark on any facility or vehicle of a public transportation system.
5. No person shall fail to comply with a lawful order of a public transportation system police officer, and no person shall resist, obstruct, or abuse a public transportation police officer in the performance of the officer's duties.
6. Whoever violates this section is guilty of misconduct involving a public transportation system.
   1. Violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
   2. Violation of division (B) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
   3. Violation of division (C) or (E) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
   4. Violation of division (D) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, seventy-five per cent of each fine paid to satisfy a sentence imposed for a violation of this section shall be deposited into the treasury of the county in which the violation occurred and twenty-five per cent shall be deposited with the county transit board, regional transit authority, or regional transit commission that operates the public transportation system involved in the violation, unless the board of county commissioners operates the public transportation system, in which case one hundred per cent of each fine shall be deposited into the treasury of the county.
8. As used in this section, "public transportation system" means a county transit system operated in accordance with sections 306.01 to 306.13 of the Revised Code, a regional transit authority operated in accordance with sections 306.30 to 306.71 of the Revised Code, or a regional transit commission operated in accordance with sections 306.80 to 306.90 of the Revised Code.