• Welcome to RAIL - Back On Track Forum.
 

20 Feb 2009: SEQ: Easy come, easy go, easy fines?

Started by ozbob, February 20, 2009, 18:02:32 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

ozbob

Media Release 20 February 2009

SEQ:  Easy come, easy go, easy fines?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for urgent clarification of the conditions of use of the Go card following the publication of a story on the Courier Mail website concerning a Go card user who was fined $200 for accruing a debit of sixty-four cents when touching off at Roma St station (1). TransLink Go card instructions clearly indicate that this situation is permitted and is why the deposit is collected for each Go card in use.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The TransLink web site states that 'before you start using your go card, you will need to top up your card and pay a refundable deposit. This deposit is like a safety net which allows you to finish your journey even if you have insufficient funds on the card (as long as your balance is positive at the start of your journey)' (2).

"Why was the Go card user issued with a $200 fine?  If the circumstances are as described in the news story (1) then this is a gross error."

"The feedback on the blog to the Courier Mail news story has been disturbing.  It would seem that the Go card has lost a lot of credibility with many users.  They are now very distrustful and will probably be reluctant to use the Go card, as many people are scared witless they will cop $200 fines for situations beyond their control."

"This incident begs the obvious question,  'How many more innocent users have been fined for both system errors and when they have been using the Go card as described in the user guide?'

"It is imperative that the Minister for Transport or a TransLink representative clarify the circumstances surrounding this fine urgently and issue an apology to the Go card user as appropriate.  The reputation of the Go card ticketing system is at stake!"

References:

1.   http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25082489-952,00.html

2.   http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/transLin.nsf/Index/go#fees

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
Half baked projects, have long term consequences ...
Ozbob's Gallery Forum   Facebook  X   Mastodon  BlueSky

🡱 🡳