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Metro leaders are considering a policy that could bar people from the transit system for committing crimes or engaging in other prohibited conduct on agency property.

The Metro Board of Directors’ safety and operations committee publicly discussed the proposal on Jan. 30. An agency spokesperson said March 3 that deliberations were still underway.

Under current rules, only courts can ban someone from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority property. Such orders last no longer than 30 days and apply only to the station or bus route where the offense took place, Metro staff told the board.

The agency previously tried but failed to establish a broader internal policy. Virginia board representative Matt Letourneau said he hopes the latest effort produces a different result, noting that other transit agencies commonly have the power to issue bans.

Board member Tracy Hadden Loh, who represents the District of Columbia, pressed Metro to act. She cited attacks on transit employees and multiple indecent-exposure incidents as serious safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable riders.

Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said a relatively small number of people are responsible for many offenses across the system. He described those incidents as preventable but said the agency needs authority beyond its existing options.

Metro staff members are examining how peer transit systems handle similar cases. One possible model is Bay Area Rapid Transit, which serves San Francisco and surrounding communities.

BART has issued “prohibition orders” for serious violations since 2013 under authority granted by California lawmakers. Its station managers and other designated employees receive lists and photographs of banned individuals.

Clarke and federal appointee Kamila Martin-Proctor said any Metro policy would also need to protect civil rights. Clarke said the agency must establish an adjudication process and give affected individuals a way to appeal.