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Code Of Conduct

Code of Conduct & Carry-On Item Policy

Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) provides important services to the traveling public in the Birmingham-Jefferson County service area. Safety is the guiding principle by which BJCTA operates. A successful partnership between BJCTA and the public is dependent upon BJCTA employees and the traveling public behaving in a mutually respectful and courteous manner. To improve the experience of its patrons, the BJCTA has adopted a policy that is commonly referred to as the Customer Code of Conduct (Code). The Code sets out prohibited behaviors for everyone who uses BJCTA facilities and/or rides the BJCTA system and authorizes certain personnel to expel from BJCTA property persons who commit Transit Violations (as defined herein) and to suspend their privileges to thereafter enter upon transit property and use the transit system. This policy also describes the process that those who feel they have been unfairly cited may use to appeal against their suspension.

Code Of Conduct

POLICY
BJCTA's mission is to provide a safe and secure environment for customers and employees through dedicated, well-trained staff. BJCTA has created a Customer Code of Conduct to:

Mission

It is the mission of BJCTA, through the efforts of dedicated and well-trained employees, to provide a safe and secure environment for both customers and employees.

Purpose

The Customer Code of Conduct has been established to promote the safety, comfort, and respect of all BJCTA riders while ensuring proper use of transit facilities and services.

Coverage

This Code of Conduct applies to all BJCTA vehicles, transit facilities, and properties. It is designed to protect BJCTA assets, employees, and customers, ensure equitable access, and support the timely and proper payment of fares while maintaining a welcoming and secure environment for all.

Transit Violations and Prohibited Behaviors

No individual may engage in inappropriate conduct on, at, or in both the public and non-public areas of BJCTA facilities, including in shelters, at bus stops, and at administrative, operational, and maintenance facilities used to provide BJCTA fixed route, Micro transit or paratransit services. The following are those behaviours and activities that are strictly prohibited:

A. Animals

  • Bringing prohibited animals. This does not include a guide dog or service dog, or other service animal as permitted by federal statute or regulation, provided that such guide dog or service dog is accompanied by a person with a disability or a person who is responsible for training a guide dog or service dog.

B. Commercial Activity/Solicitation

  • Engaging in unauthorized commercial activity. BJCTA must grant express permission or a concession to allow persons to sell goods or services or solicit money, and any commercial activities or solicitation without BJCTA’s express approval is strictly forbidden. This applies to all vehicles and paid areas of any Transit Center or Intermodal bus station.
  • Giving commercial handbills or flyers to the operator or passengers of a bus, micro transit or paratransit vehicle. This applies to vehicles and paid areas of any Transit Center or Intermodal bus station.
  • Engaging in the distribution or sale of drugs or the commission of any other crime.

C. Conduct/Civility

  • Spitting.
  • Littering.
  • Bringing commercial or large-size carts or dollies onto any BJCTA vehicle unless collapsed. A small, personal-use-size stroller or small cart must be securely held and must not block passageways.
  • Roller-skating, rollerblading, or skateboarding on buses or in transit stations.
  • Indecent exposure.*.
  • Other disorderly conduct. This refers to actions that prevent customers and employees from comfortably using buses, call center interactions, or transit facilities for their intended purpose. This includes but is not limited to yelling, harassing another patron, or any intentional physical contact with another patron or employee.
  • Stealing or willfully damaging BJCTA property.*.
  • Defecating or urinating
  • Consuming alcohol.
  • Consuming illegal drugs.

D. Fares

  • Passengers are not permitted to remain on the bus for continuous rides without a valid destination. Riders must exit the bus at the end of the line and may reboard only if they have a new trip or destination. This policy ensures fair access to transit services for all customers.
  • Refusing to pay a fare or show specific fare media to a BJCTA employee.
  • Misusing fare media.
  • Distributing or selling fake or stolen fare media*
  • Max Transit does not provide refunds for purchased fares, passes, or tickets, regardless of usage or circumstances. All sales are final. Please ensure you select the appropriate fare or pass for your travel needs before completing your purchase.

Important Note: Offenses marked with (*) may result in arrest, fines, and/or suspension from the transit system.

Suspension and Expulsion

A. Immediate Expulsion

BJCTA Safety Department may expel a person who violates BJCTA’s Customer Code of Conduct from BJCTA property by issuing such person an order to immediately exit the property. This type of expulsion order is effective for twenty-four (24) hours following the expulsion. After this time, it does not suspend a person’s ability to re-enter BJCTA property. If a person refuses to exit immediately and remain off the property, they will be arrested for criminal trespass. A person can be expelled from BJCTA property either orally or in writing. Twelve-hour expulsions cannot be appealed or reviewed.

B. Transit Suspension Procedure

  • Those who violate the rules listed above may be suspended from entering BJCTA’s property and using the transit system at BJCTA’s sole discretion. The citation will include the cause of the suspension, the length of suspension, and notice that violating the suspension may result in criminal prosecution.
  • Citations may be issued by BJCTA Safety Department, Birmingham Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff Department, BJCTA Security Department, or any other law enforcement authority in Jefferson County, AL.
  • Citations shall state the date on which they become effective.
  • A person may also be issued a conditional exclusion letter, which will allow them to use transit facilities and services under certain conditions. Juvenile passengers, for example, may be required to have an accompanying guardian. Citations also inform the person of his/her right to appeal against the citation. The appeal process is described on the back of the citation.

C. Length of Suspension

  • A person receiving a citation for a violation of one of the following Code sections shall be suspended for thirty (30) days: A1, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, G4, G5.
  • A person receiving a citation for a violation of one of the following Code sections shall be suspended for a period of sixty (60) days: C8, C9, D1, D2, D3, G3, G4, G10
  • A person receiving a citation for a crime against a person involving a firearm or other dangerous weapon or a crime against a person or sexual offense that is a felony or misdemeanor, shall be suspended for three hundred and sixty-five (365) days and may, given the severity of the offense, be permanently banned from the system in BJCTA’s sole discretion.
  • A person receiving a citation for a violation of one of the following Code sections: B3, C5, C7, G6, G7, G8, G9, H1 or H2, shall be suspended for three-hundred and sixty-five (365) days and may, given the severity of the offense, be permanently banned from the system in BJCTA’s sole discretion.
  • A person who violates an active suspension notice will be suspended for a period of thirty (30) days
  • A person who receives three (3) citations (which are not appealed or if appealed, a final determination of guilt has been made) within a ninety (90) day period shall receive a three hundred and sixty-five (365) day suspension.
  • A person who receives four (4) citations (which are not appealed or if appealed, a final determination of guilt has been made) within a ninety (90) day period shall be permanently banned from the system

Note: On the suspension form, officers shall list the code section that corresponds to the violation on the description violation line. Example: Fare Evasion, D1, violators refuse to pay the required fare of $1.50.

D. Appeal/Review of Suspension

  • A citation may be appealed by written request sent by registered or certified mail, statutory overnight delivery, or hand delivery within thirty (30) days of the issuance of such citation. Within ten (10) days of receipt of a request for a hearing, BJCTA shall respond to the person requesting a hearing to schedule a hearing date, which shall be no later than thirty (30) days from the receipt of the request. If no hearing is requested within thirty (30) days of the issuance of a citation, issued shall be deemed final and become effective immediately.
  • If no appeal is made, use of Authority services or entry upon Authority property is forbidden and subsequent use of services or entry upon property during a period of suspension shall constitute criminal trespass. Violation of this notice shall be grounds for issuance of an additional suspension from BJCTA and prosecution for criminal trespass in accordance with Ala. Code § 13A-7-4 (1975).

FARE FORFEITURE

An individual who is suspended from BJCTA will not be entitled to any refund of unused fare media that may expire during the time of his/her exclusion.

Carry-On Item Policy

Please note: Bus operators cannot help passengers with carry-on items.

Any items brought on the bus must be small enough to fit on your lap or under your seat. Items cannot be so large or numerous that they block the aisle, take up a seat, or are too difficult for one person to safely carry.

Passengers cannot get on and off the bus to load packages.

Passengers May:

Bring bags onto the bus, as long as they fit between your feet or on your lap without blocking the aisle.

Bring portable respirators, concentrators, and oxygen tanks onto the bus. You must hold these items so they don't block the aisle.

Bring grocery pull carts onto the bus, as long as they collapse and fit under or between your feet without blocking the aisle. Items must be removed from pull carts so the cart can collapse properly.

Bring baby strollers onto the bus, as long as you take the baby out of the stroller and collapse the stroller to place under or between your feet without blocking the aisle.