Community Transit

Community Transit is a safe way to travel. Community Transit contracts with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department to provide safety and security for our buses and park & rides. Our coach operators meet high standards of professionalism and training; 64 current employees have received national safe driving awards for operating more than12 years without an accident.

All buses have two-way radios and alarm systems to notify our dispatchers if there is a problem or need for assistance. We also have security cameras on board buses and at some park & rides.

Community Transit has a "bait car" to catch car thieves at our park & rides.

Please report all crimes on Community Transit property to police to assist us in identifying and reducing problem activity.

With Transit Watch and our contract with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department, we continue to work to improve overall safety for our riders and employees.

See something? Say Something.

Transit Watch is a nationwide safety and security awareness program designed to encourage the active participation of transit passengers and employees to maintain a safe transit environment. Community Transit works with you, our passengers, and the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department to ensure one of the safest transit systems in the country. Still, given recent incidents, it's never been more important to be alert, aware and prepared when you're riding Community Transit.

What to watch for:

Unattended backpacks and packages

• Placed in an out-of-the-way location
• With unusually attached batteries, wires, or cell phones
• With tanks, bottles or bags that might contain chemicals
• With an attached message or note
• With a suspicious cloud, mist, gas, vapor, odor or seeping fluid.

Suspicious behavior

• Individuals in the act of abandoning a backpack or package, who then hastily depart
• People showing visibile signs of nervousness, such as excessive perspiration
• People carrying spray bottles or aerosol canisters
• People loitering, staring, or watching employees and customers
• People taking pictures of equipment or secure areas
• People wearing clothing that is too heavy or too baggy for the weather.

If you notice someone behaving suspiciously, stay alert and observe their location, activity, behavior and physical characteristics. Try to keep them in your sight at all times. Do not confront suspicious individuals by yourself.

Report any incidents of suspicious behavior or activity to the police or a Community Transit employee. Include the location in which you found them, particularly if it is a secure area that may have been compromised.

If they do leave, note their direction of travel, description of vehicle and license plate.

When you observe suspicious activity, observe and report the person's following characteristics:

• Head - eyes, ears, hair and facial hair, mouth, nose, forehead, cheeks and chin, complexion, scars, jewelry, hat
• Body - neck, arms, chest, stomach, shirt/blouse/dress, coat, accessories, tattoos
• Legs - pants, skirt, belt, feet, socks, shoes
• Overall appearance - height, weight, gender, age, neat or sloppy, packages, bags or accessories
• Unique characteristics such as scars, birthmarks, or other identifying attributes.

See something? Say Something immediately.

• Trust your instincts and call 911. If something seems out of the ordinary call the police or inform a Community Transit employee immediately.
• Do not confront suspicious individuals by yourself.
• In the event of an unaccompanied backpack or package, do not use your cellular phone until you are a safe distance away.

The 4 "B's"

These 4 "B's" are your ticket to a safe, secure ride.

1. Be involved in a lifesaving partnership: transit employees and passengers

   Transit Watch encourages everyone to keep safe by being aware of their surrounding and alert to activities, packages or situations that seem suspicious. If something out of the ordinary is observed it should be reported immediately to 911.

   As a resource, transit employees provide a wealth of specialized knowledge and on-the-job experience. Likewise, transit passengers contribute to the security equation by providing thousands of extra eyes and ears capable of identifying possible life-threatening situations.

2. Be informed and have a transit plan of action

   • Familiarize yourself with your routes and surroundings.
   • Familiarize yourself with station entrances.
   • Remain calm and listen for station or bus announcements.
   • Follow transit authority instructions in a speedy but orderly fashion.
   • Do not block bus doors from closing.
   • Assist fellow passengers and watch out for the safety of others just as you would have them watch out for your safety.

3. Be alert

   People just like you act as the eyes and ears of our system and always check their immediate surroundings for activity which may require police intervention. Be alert and aware of everyday activities on your transit system. Get your family, friends and neighbors involved.

   Try not to let personal feeling get in the way when you see suspicious activity. Look at the entire situation before making a judgment. Watch for non-verbal signs. Do not become personally involved.

   • Keep these points in mind
     • Do not take direct action.
     • Do not confront the individual.
     • Do not reveal your suspicions.
     • Do record as many details as possible.
     • Do call 911 as soon as possible.
   • Describing Suspicious Behavior
     When describing suspicious activity, remember to be accurate and specific.
     • Who did you observe?
     • What did you see?
     • Where did you see it?
     • When did you see it?
     • Why is it suspicious?
   • Describing a Suspicious Person
     Report the following when describing a suspicious person.
     • Sex/race/age - approximately
     • Height - in 2-inch blocks, such as 5 feet 4 inches, 5 feet 6 inches
     • Weight - in 10 lb. blocks, such as 170 lbs., 180 lbs.
     • Build - medium, heavy set, thin, etc.
     • Hair - color, length, facial hair, if any
     • Complexion - light, dark, ruddy, olive
     • Peculiarities - scars, tattoos, birthmarks, missing limbs
     • Clothing - from head to toe, style, defects
     • Weapons - type, size
     • Method of escape - direction, type of vehicle, etc.
   • Describing a Suspicious Vehicle
     An accurate description of a vehicle can determine how soon a suspicious individual is found and apprehended. The following information would be helpful:
     • License plate - most important
     • Make - model, color, year
     • Body type - 2-door, 4-door, van, SUV, etc.
     • Passengers - number of people in vehicle
     • Damage - anything unusual, graphics, etc.

4. Be prepared

   Preparing for emergencies can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that many times, unfortunately, accompany these events. Create a plan with your family that includes meeting locations outside the home, ways for maintaining contact with family members, and emergency information.

   Preparedness tips

   • Create an advanced plan for maintaining contact with family members if separated as a result of an emergency.
   • Create an advanced plan for maintaining contact with close friends and colleagues during an extended emergency period.
   • Keep a record of all contact and emergency information and update it regularly as needed.
   • Select a location outside your home as a family meeting point should your home need to be evacuated.
   • Identify alternate routes and means of reaching your meeting point in the event your main route is impassable.
   • Keep a local map handy for reference.
   • Make sure your emergency information and contact numbers are with you at all times.
   • Use the Emergency Quick Reference Card Generator below to automatically create a custom card with all your emergency information. Make one for all your family members and carry it with you at all times.

When transit employees and transit passengers pool these resources, the result is a highly effective first line of defense against a potential natural or man-made disaster. So, please, make a commitment to becoming an alert, informed, prepared and involved member of this employee-passenger partnership.

Rest assured, your efforts will go a long way toward enhancing the safety and security of our transit system.