FOX 32's Nate Rodgers goes undercover as smoking plagues CTA trains

Smoking is prohibited on CTA buses, trains and within station premises, but riders continue to disregard the rule. Nate Rodgers goes undercover on the trains and catches passengers in the act.

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[johnfranklin]

What do they think?
1) no police presence on the trains
2) no physical arrests for violators
Thank you Safe-T-Act!
No repercussions=no deterrence

[Ctboy]

The CTA is HORRIBLE now!!!Especially the Redline 🤢 🤮

[BlockchainMoney]

Keep getting on there nate you will see wild things lol

[jackmeehof]

They piss and sh* on the CTA trains too !!!! LMAO 🤣

[Raging_Red_Bulls]

I seen a guy smoking that sweet rock on the train 🚆 crack😖

[timhinchcliffe]

Just threaten repeat offenders with a day's jail time... pretty sure there's no smoking there.

[ButterflyFan]

If you say anything about smoking you might get 🔫. That's why we all don't say anything.

[titusnixon]

I try my best not to get on the CTA. I take Metra to downtown, it's terrible on CTA from idiots selling weed and other drugs on the train. I can't take it. When they put police on the red line, maybe I'll ride but if I don't have to I won't. Spring can't come soon enough cause my bike is another option

[azjoe_]

The US transit system is a cesspool. In Prague, Warsaw and Vienna there is nothing but quiet, good behavior. I saw more shady characters on the Phoenix light rail ride to the airport than my entire day working in an Arizona prison.

[zoomanx]

If you say something, get into a conflict, get the upper hand, you’re the one that’s gonna go to jail.

[jesusnodal]

Smoking problem on CTA trains has been a thing happening since forever!! Zero rules are enforced on those trains.

[gregb]

A bar room? More like a marijuana dispensary.

[unknownunkown]

I'm so tired of all vapers. It is so easy for them to vape non stop and they hide in their hands when supervisor comes or police. They do not give a damn about others if they suffer from asthma or cancer.

[Voicesampd]

If smoking had better regulations to let people smoke in parks or their apartments without harassment- it will slow down for sure. Go back to the smoking sections like in the 40s.

[willyjoerockhead]

To be fair...smoking was allowed on the CTA trains back in the 1970's they even had ashtrays on the armrest seats.

[DarnellCU-sn]

Lol there is so much more going on, ive riden the CTA my whole life

[Eric-skwx]

Another thing...CTA spend mo ney on new buses, but Not Safety, and Police!!...buses be full of wendys, white castle, harolds, beer cansand bottles!!...ENFORCEMENT IS WHAT NEEDED ON CHICAGO TRANSIT..

[MsGrandunion]

Thank you for highlighting this. It's getting worse, not better.
Last night there were 17 people in one red line train smoking, in all eight cars.
Regular Newports, roll ups, weed and vapes.
There is NO security presence on any train in Chicago, just a small team of K9s at Roosevelt, and a useless bunch of Monterey staff at 95th, standing in a circle looking at their phones.

This is the standard response you get if you contact the CTA -

"Thank you for contacting the CTA. We are sorry for the situation you continue to experience on the Red Line. CTA continues to diligently remind all riders that smoking (including e-cigarettes) or carrying a lighted cigarette, cigar or pipe on property owned, operated or maintained by the CTA is prohibited.

We are aware of the growing concerns from our customers about unruly behavior near and on our system. Our facilities and fleet are part of communities we serve and public safety challenges impacting these communities also impact us.

The safety and security of public transit riders is the No. 1 priority for both the CTA and the Chicago Police Department, which provides law enforcement for CTA.

Please be assured that your concerns have been forwarded to the responsible management for review."


They been sending out this standard response for years now, and nothing changes.

[sgtmcc]

Guess the biggest offenders 👨🏾‍🦱👨🏾‍🦱👨🏾‍🦱👨🏾‍🦱

[MigyFl]

Very rude to smoke in closed places where others maybe don't like smoke. All p people should follow the rules.