Starting in June, the Renton Police Department and Metro Police will conduct emphasis patrols for unlawful behavior at the Renton Transit Center downtown.

The officers will enforce rules spelled out in state law (RCW 9.91.025) that covers unlawful transit conduct.

During the first week, officers will educate violators about the law and issue warnings. After the first week, officers will enforce the law aggressively, according to the City of Renton.

The law prohibits smoking, littering, loitering, loud music, alcohol consumption/open container of alcohol, skateboarding, biking and spitting at transit stations and on transit vehicles.

The patrols come as officers expect to see more people downtown with the return of good weather.

“While the crime rate at the transit center does not exceed other areas of the city, we recognize that our residents are concerned about criminal activity in the area,” said Renton Police Chief Kevin Milosevich in a media release.

The patrols will include Renton officers who regularly patrol downtown and the transit center and the Police Department’s Directed Enforcement Team. They will work with King County Sheriff’s Metro Bicycle Emphasis Enforcement Squad.

The officers will “remind would-be violators that the Renton Transit Center is not a place for unlawful activity,” said Milosevich.