[105th Congress Public Law 151]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ151.105]
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Public Law 105-151
105th Congress
Joint Resolution
Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the State of Maryland,
the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia to amend the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact. <<NOTE: Dec.
16, 1997 - [H.J. Res. 96]>>
Whereas the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the
District of Columbia have adopted amendments to the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact relating to public
hearing requirements and empowering transit police officers to carry
weapons issued by WMATA while in an off-duty status, consistent with
limitations imposed by the applicable political subdivision; and
Whereas the Congress has reviewed such amendments and is willing to
consent to such amendments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled, That consent of Congress is
hereby given to the amendments of the State of Maryland (Chapter 489,
1996 Laws of the Maryland General Assembly and Chapters 91 and 699, 1997
Laws of the Maryland General Assembly), the amendments of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (Chapter 150, 1995 Acts of Assembly of
Virginia), and the amendments of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law 11-
443) to sections 62 and 76 of title III of the Washington Metropolitan
Area Transit Regulation Compact. Such amendments are as follows:
(1) Section 62(a) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) The Board shall not raise any fare or rate, nor implement a
major service reduction, except after holding a public hearing with
respect thereto.''.
(2) Section 62(c) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) The Board shall give at least fifteen days' notice for all
public hearings. The notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper
of daily circulation throughout the Transit Zone and such notice shall
be published once a week for two successive weeks. The notice period
shall start with the first day of publication. Notices of public
hearings shall be posted in accordance with regulations promulgated by
the Board.''.
(3) Section 76(b) is amended to read as follows:
``(b) A member of the Metro Transit Police shall have the same
powers, including the power of arrest, and shall be subject to the same
limitations, including regulatory limitations, in the performance of his
duties as a member of the duly constituted police force of the political
subdivision in which the Metro Transit Police member is engaged in the
performance of his duties. A member of the Metro Transit Police is
authorized to carry and use only such weapons, including handguns, as
are issued by the Authority. A member of the Metro Transit Police is
subject to
[[Page 111 STAT. 2687]]
such additional limitations in the use of weapons as are imposed on the
duly constituted police force for the political subdivision in which he
is engaged in the performance of his duties.''.
(4) Section 76(e) is amended to read as follows:
``(e) The Authority shall have the power to adopt rules and
regulations for the safe, convenient, and orderly use of the transit
facilities owned, controlled, or operated by the Authority, including
the payment and the manner of the payment of fares or charges therefor,
the protection of the transit facilities, the control of traffic and
parking upon the transit facilities, and the safety and protection of
the riding public. In the event that any such rules and regulations
contravene the laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of a signatory or
any political subdivision thereof which are existing or subsequently
enacted, these laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of the signatory
or the political subdivision shall apply and the conflicting rule or
regulation, or portion thereof, of the Authority shall be void within
the jurisdiction of that signatory or political subdivision. In all
other respects, the rules and regulations of the Authority shall be
uniform throughout the Transit Zone. The rules or regulations
established under this subsection shall be adopted by the Board
following public hearings held in accordance with section 62(c) and (d)
of this Compact. The final regulation shall be published in a newspaper
of general circulation within the Zone at least 15 days before its
effective date. Any person violating any rule or regulation of the
Authority shall be subject to arrest and, upon conviction by a court of
competent jurisdiction, shall pay a fine of not more than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) and costs. Criminal violations of any rule or
regulation of the Authority shall be prosecuted by the signatory or
political subdivision in which the violation occurred, in the same
manner by which violations of law, ordinances, rules, and regulations of
the signatory or political subdivisions are prosecuted.''.
Approved December 16, 1997.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.J. Res. 96:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-396 (Comm. on the Judiciary).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):
Nov. 12, considered and passed House.
Nov. 13, considered and passed Senate.
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