Rules of Conduct Policy for the Airport Terminals and Concourse Facilities of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority


  1. PURPOSE

This Orders and Instructions (O&I) establishes Rules of Conduct in the terminal and concourse facilities; pedestrian bridges; and tunnels connecting the terminals to the Airport parking garages   at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Reagan National) and Washington Dulles International Airport (Dulles International).


  1. DISTRIBUTION

This O&I is distributed to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Airports Authority), employees, airlines, tenants, concessionaires, governmental agencies, and others at Reagan National and Dulles International.


  1. CANCELLATION

Rules of Conduct Policy for the Airport Terminals and Concourse Facilities of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, O&I 8-1-2, dated April 6, 2016, is hereby cancelled.


  1. BACKGROUND

Reagan National and Dulles International are operated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority with day to day on-site management responsibilities overseen by the Airport Manager.  In the course of managing the Airports, the Airport Manager makes many operational decisions which are designed to ensure the safety, health, and convenience of Airport passengers, individuals working at the Airports and other persons who provide services to passengers or otherwise participate in the Airports Authority’s transportation function.

There are certain activities and types of behavior which, when undertaken by persons within the terminals, concourses, pedestrian bridges and tunnels connecting the terminals to the Airport parking garages, can interfere significantly with the operations of the Airports and their ability to serve the travelling public, and can adversely affect the nature and quality of the passenger experience   at the Airports.  Moreover, these activities and types of behavior often occur when individuals spend time at the Airports for purposes entirely unrelated to the air transportation purpose of these facilities.


  1. POLICY
  1. Rules of Conduct.  The following activities and types of behavior are prohibited in the terminals, concourses, pedestrian bridges and tunnels connecting the terminals to the airport parking garages of Reagan National and Dulles International   and shall not be engaged in by any individual while located within any of these areas:
  • Engaging in disorderly or disruptive behavior, including without limitation fighting with another individual and loud use of vulgar or profane language;
  • Assaulting another individual;
  • Threatening (by word or action) harm to or harassing passengers or other individuals;
  • Using Airport restrooms for inappropriate purposes, including without limitation personal bathing or washing clothes;
  • Manifesting community health risks, including without limitation open sores, lice, symptoms of communicable disease;
  • Exhibiting personal hygiene below that which is minimally acceptable to the community of Airport users;
  • Leaving personal belongings unattended;
  • Damaging Airport property or property of others;
  • Soliciting money from the public whether as donations or gratuities for services;
  • Distributing literature without a permit; and
  • Riding and operating balance boards, bicycles, hover boards, roller blades, skateboards, Segways, and all other similar vehicles and devices.

Furthermore, any individual who chooses to withdraw consent to be searched by TSA after entering a security checkpoint must leave the Airport immediately.

  1. Violations.  Any individual who fails to observe any of the rules of conduct in   Paragraph A may be directed to leave the Airport by the Airport Manager or an agent of the Airport Manager and, after failing to comply with such direction, may be arrested and charged with trespass under Section 18.2-119 of the Virginia Code.
  2. Agents.  The Airports Authority Police Department and each of its sworn officers are authorized to act as the Airport Managers’ agents in directing individuals who violate any of the rules in Paragraph A to leave the Airport premises.
  3. Exceptions.  The Airport Police Department and Airport Operations Department   personnel may use Segways and Bicycles within all Airport facilities in performance of their official law enforcement duties.