Sec. 12-64-2. - Prohibitions.
The commission of the following acts shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by payment of a fine of not more than $50.00 for each separate violation and court costs:
A. Payment of fare.
1. Fares. Passengers shall be permitted upon trolley vehicles only upon payment of such fares and under such circumstances as may from time to time be established by the Memphis Area Transit Authority. It is an infraction, punishable pursuant to section 1-24-1, for any person to refuse to pay, or to evade or attempt to evade the payment of such fares.
2. Proof of payment. No unauthorized person shall occupy, ride in or use any trolley vehicle without possessing and exhibiting upon demand of a trolley inspector, valid proof of fare payment.
3. Agreement. The use of any trolley vehicle shall constitute an agreement by the user to pay the applicable fare in accordance with the effective fare resolution established by the Memphis Area Transit Authority and to have in his or her immediate possession proof of fare payment.
4. Procedure. It is unlawful for any person to fail to provide his or her name, address or identification to a transit inspector. It shall also be unlawful for any person to provide a false or fictitious name, address or identification to a transit inspector.
5. Counterfeiting of passes and tickets. No person shall counterfeit, forge or alter any ticket, coupon, receipt for fare payment, or pass issued by Memphis Area Transit Authority designed to title the holder to ride MATA trolley vehicles.
No such person shall possess, offer or put into circulation, any such counterfeit, forgery or altered ticket, copy, receipt for fare payment, or pass.
B. Riding the trolley. It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Vandalize, damage or otherwise deface in any manner a trolley car;
2. Smoke, eat or drink any beverage aboard the trolley, or carry aboard, possess or cause any open food or drink container to be aboard any trolley vehicle. Appropriate notices or symbols indicating the foregoing may be posted on trolley vehicles so as to be visible to passengers.
Notwithstanding the preceding subsection, food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, may be consumed aboard trolley vehicles during the time any such vehicle is actually operating under charter, provided, that the consumption of food and drink, including alcoholic beverages, by any person, shall at all times be contingent upon and shall conform to the conditions applicable to the charter of MATA's trolley vehicles, as set forth in the Memphis Area Transit Authority Charter Policy, including mandatory prearrangement with MATA for the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and the providing by the chartering party of insurance satisfactory to MATA in the event that alcoholic beverages are consumed on board;
3. Extend his or her head, hand, arm, foot, leg or other portion of the body through any window or door opening of a trolley;
4. Harass, threaten or intimidate the trolley operator or a trolley inspector;
5. Ring or attempt to ring the trolley bell;
6. Throw or project a stone or other missile from the trolley, throw or project a stone or other missile at a trolley or trolley facility, or at any person or thing on a trolley;
7. Pull or attempt to pull the emergency cord except in case of an emergency;
8. Solicit any passengers for any purpose;
9. Carry or attempt to carry a bicycle on board a trolley vehicle. Folded bicycles may be carried aboard trolley cars provided space is available;
10. Bring, carry into or carry upon a trolley car a dog or other animal unless it is completely enclosed in a carrying case which can be accommodated in the lap of a passenger with no danger of annoyance to other persons. This prohibition shall not apply to a dog or other duly trained animal, properly harnessed, accompanying a visually-impaired, hearing-impaired or other disabled persons;
11. Carry aboard a trolley car any packages, bundle, sharp or pointed objects or other objects which, because of their size, bulk, shape or nature may be dangerous or cause discomfort to passengers, or which interferes with the safe operation of the trolley vehicle;
12. Ride upon the outside or roof of any trolley.
13. Urinate or defecate in or upon a trolley.
C. Interference with trolley operation. It is unlawful for any person to:
1. Hang upon, jump upon or attempt to hang upon or jump upon a trolley;
2. Displace or attempt to displace a trolley vehicle from the track below or the electrical lines above the trolley vehicle;
3. Vandalize, in any manner whatsoever, any trolley equipment or appurtenances;
4. Cut or break, in any manner whatsoever, or attempt to cut or break, the electrical lines supplying current to the trolley equipment, including throwing a switch that controls the electrical current;
5. Block or obstruct the movement of a trolley vehicle by: (1) parking or abandoning any vehicle whether self-propelled, animal drawn or motor powered on or near the tracks; or (2) placing any object on or near the tracks; or (3) standing on, in the middle of, or adjacent to the tracks;
6. Attach any advertising, hand bills, flyers or other material or object to any portion of the trolley stops, trolley signs or poles supporting the overhead wires as prohibited in section 10-12-9(B);
7. Solicit any person standing at a trolley stop;
8. Climb upon any trolley stop or the clock tower located in front of City Hall;
9. Interfere in any way with the safe and orderly operation of the Main Street Trolley System.
D. Miscellaneous.
1. No person shall exhibit, sell or offer for sale, hire, lease or let out in a trolley vehicle any object or merchandise, or anything whatsoever, whether corporeal or incorporeal, except concessions under contract to the Memphis Area Transit Authority.
2. No person (except Memphis Area Transit Authority staff and persons or firms under written contract with MATA) shall offer for sale, sell or put into circulation, any transit ticket, coupon, receipt for fare payment or pass which entitles the holder to ride in MATA trolley vehicles.
(Code 1985, § 20-27(b); Ord. No. 4202, § 1, 7-6-1993)
