Washington State Ferries reported 17 physical assaults systemwide, seven on Kitsap-based routes, and 23 threats/verbal abuse incidents systemwide, with 13 on Kitsap-based routes last year.

“During the last few years, aggressive behavior toward employees on our vessels and at our terminals has increased. So much so that we now make announcements on each sailing reminding our customers to be courteous, respectful and that we maintain a zero-tolerance harassment policy, “ WSF spokesperson Dana Warr wrote via email.

In 2024, WSF reported 28 incidents of threats/verbal abuse, 14 physical assaults, and five arrests, Warr said.

Warr said of the reported assaults in 2025, five resulted in arrests. Some examples of the types of assaults crewmembers may encounter include: threatening bodily harm, throwing objects, and biting or punching. Seven assaults occurred at Colman Dock in Seattle and one physical assault was reported at the Bainbridge terminal, he said.

In a Feb. 4, 2025, incident report obtained by a public records request to WSF, an individual boarded the M/V Puyallup at Coleman Dock in Seattle, and became agitated and combative with WSF staff and took food from the galley before later returning it. Once arriving on Bainbridge Island, the individual refused to leave the vessel, which delayed the departing trip by roughly 19 minutes. The individual was later verbally trespassed from the terminal and vessel by the Bainbridge Island Police Department.

On Feb. 5, 2025, Trooper Erik Anderegg with Washington State Patrol, contacted an individual at the BI ferry terminal after he was upset about missing the boat. Anderegg noted in an incident report, the individual walked past several signs indicating boarding would occur from the car deck due to high tide levels. However, the individual attempted to board the boat from the overhead walkway. Anderegg informed the individual that boarding would occur from the car deck and noted that the individual then became increasingly hostile. BIPD soon arrived and informed Anderegg that the agency had previously verbally trespassed the individual. Anderegg contacted the individual and confirmed his identity by a state-issued ID card. Anderegg provided the individual with a copy of the no trespass warning, which he signed, and noted the individual was “ hostile for majority of the contact with law enforcement.”

In early 2025, a new bill aims to expand the locations where a person can be guilty of unlawful transit conduct to include Washington state ferries. The law went into effect July 27, following Gov. Bob Ferguson’s May signature. In a May 2025 WSF community meeting, WSF assistant secretary and deputy executive director John Vezina described some of the complexities of navigating customer behavior.

“I had a Washington State Patrol Trooper tell me that he had more authority to address bad behavior against a bus driver in Kitsap County than he did on our boats. So this bill addresses that,” he said. “We will absolutely address issues affecting our crews with the Attorney General’s office and with Washington State Patrol to make sure we have the tools we need to address horrifically inappropriate behavior.”

Vezina said in addition to the 42-second onboard announcement reminding passengers of the zero-tolerance harassment policy, WSF also has “All sail together” posters on its vessels highlighting the customer code of conduct.

Kevin Fortino, a WSP spokesperson in the homeland security division, described a no trespass order as a law enforcement tool that can be issued by any law enforcement agency and can be standalone or part of a criminal investigation. In 2025 systemwide, Fortino said WSP issued 10 NTOs, while WSF reported 17 NTOs systemwide in 2024 and 21 in 2025.

WSP doesn’t conduct immigration enforcement and focuses on crime and terrorism prevention, Fortino said.

“Any kind of criminal complaint we take seriously and will complete a full investigation on whatever that complaint may be. Any assault on whether it be a passenger or ferry worker, is treated as an extremely important item. And obviously, if it’s something in progress, we will get resources to that location as fast as we can,” he said.