DART Trains, Buses Designated As 'Safe Place' For Human Trafficking Victims, Other Minors In Danger
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas Area Rapid Transit is reminding the public during Human Trafficking Awareness Month its buses and light rail trains, as well as contractor vehicles, are a "Safe Place" for youth who've been victims of human trafficking, other abuse or feel they are in danger.
A "Safe Place" decal is prominently displayed on the exterior and interior of each type of DART vehicle.
DART is sharing a story from December 2019, when a paratransit driver helped a 15-year-old escape an abusive situation by providing her safety in his vehicle.
The young girl with all her belongings jumped in the back of a DART paratransit van with driver Josiah Davis who watched over and protected her until help arrived, DART said in a news release Friday.
Davis stopped for gas on December 27 when the girl approached and requested a safe place with him.
DART began a collaboration with Safe Place in 2015 to help runaways and other youth in danger who are often targets for human traffickers.
Minors who see the decal know DART can help get them to safety by transporting youth escaping dangerous situations to the nearest QuikTrip convenience store, which is also a designated Safe Place.
Once inside the store, runaways and at-risk youth can wait for a Safe Place agency partner to connect them with professional help.
