(Portland, OR) -- Spitting on a TriMet employee will soon get you banned from Portland's transit system for life. It's one of several new changes the TriMet Board approved to take effect on February 25th. Spitting on someone is already a crime, and the agency has now included it as an offense that can warrant a long-term exclusion.

The Board also voted to prohibit police from checking fares on buses and trains. However, police may still be present when transit staff check fares. They will be authorized to help TriMet employees identify someone who refuses to give their name. Furthermore, if a person who has not paid their fare becomes violent with the fare inspector, police can still intervene. They may also still issue citations for drug use or drug possession in transit.

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