Photo by joekerstef

In the wake of several recent high profile shenanigans on the part of Metro employees, including one Metrobus driver who was fired after being charged with kidnapping, and another who turned out to have a suspended license, WMATA today announced that it has implemented some new hiring standards.

Under the new standards, Metro applicants for frontline positions (i.e. bus drivers and train operators) will be disqualified from the applicant pool for any of the following:

1. One or more moving violations within the last three years for negligent, careless or reckless driving
2. Driver’s license revocations or suspensions due to moving violations within three years
3. More than two points on their driver’s license within three years
4. A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs within three years
5. A felony conviction within the last 10 years
6. Two or more misdemeanor convictions for drug possession or a crime against person, property or society within the last 10 years
7. A criminal conviction for crimes of violence and/or sexual abuse or sexual assault

Additionally, applicants for safety-sensitive positions and jobs with fiduciary duties will be disqualified for any felony conviction within the last five years, or for two or more misdemeanor convictions within the last five years.

The previous standards only precluded hiring for reasons number 2 and 3 above, along with any two felony convictions within three years or three felony convictions within 10 years.

The new rules aren’t retroactive, so any bus or train operator already working for Metro could technically have a felony conviction or two.