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The punishments didn’t fit the crimes. ‘Interfering with public transit’ was a Class A misdemeanor, the same as a DUI. And ‘interfering with public transit’ could be anything, including fare evasion.

Shawn Fleek, a spokesperson for OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, which helped the state rewrite the law to lower the penalty for fare evasion.

Shawn Fleek, a spokesperson for OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, which helped the state rewrite the law to lower the penalty for fare evasion.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.