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Posted: 6/24/2009

With the proliferation of wireless electronic devices has come a growing concern about the use of such devices while operating vehicles, especially transit vehicles such as buses and paratransit vans. In response to this concern, the VIA Metropolitan Transit Board of Trustees has updated the agency’s policy to further restrict how and when personal electronic devices can be used by the agency’s bus and van operators.

The new version of the policy reads as follows:

Operators are strictly prohibited from using any mobile electronic devices (including but not limited to pagers, cellular phones, radios, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets, earpieces, CD/DVD players, digital recorder) while driving a bus or van, walking through the bus yard, or operating a personal vehicle on VIA property. All mobile electronic devices and accessories (including Bluetooth devices) must be out of sight, stowed away off the operator’s person, and TURNED OFF while the bus or van is in service.

This is a departure from the previous policy that allowed operators to still carry an electronic device as long as it was not used while driving.

The new policy also calls for termination of employment as the only consequence for violations. Under the previous policy, a violation would result in suspension or probation at a minimum with termination as a possibility. With the new policy, any violations will result in termination.