New Jersey Transit police issued a summons to a bus rider for refusing to wear a mask on board for the first time following repeated complaints from passengers.

The summons was issued Nov. 20 at the Old Bridge Park & Ride.

News 12 is told officers in plain clothes were assigned to the bus after repeated complaints from riders against the individual. NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo explained what happened in a recent meeting.  

“In this particular case, we had a repeat offender who, on a daily basis, did not wear the mask,” says Trucillo. “In this case, we did take an enforcement action and that is the only enforcement action we have had to take since we’ve been doing the mask detail.”

Transit police conduct random enforcements throughout the system. Two-thousand of the details have been conducted since September, but this was the first summons they felt was necessary to give to a rider. The rider faces up to a $500, as well as possible jail time and community service. 

NJ Transit, Amtrak, SEPTA and PATH all recently joined the “Mask Force,” a campaign started by the MTA that aims to encourage 100% mask compliance on public transportation along the Northeast Corridor in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.