Article: Card checkers Go out in force

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Card checkers Go out in force

Card checkers Go out in force
Daniel Hurst
January 10, 2012 - 3:00AM

TransLink has beefed up its ticketing enforcement ranks in the past month, a decision it says is unrelated to the third 15 per cent fare hike in three years.

The southeast Queensland transit authority last year recruited new senior network officers, who perform the dual role of cracking down on fare evasion and conducting safety patrols, with special powers to detain people.

TransLink figures show 15,582 fines were issued to fare evaders in the nine months to September, compared with 15,171 the previous year.
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As more people returned to work after Christmas holidays, several commuters told brisbanetimes.com.au they had noticed more enforcement officers checking Go Cards and tickets on trains.

A TransLink spokesman said 13 new senior network officers graduated on December 16, bringing the total number employed in the role to 33.

But he said there was "no connection between fare changes and revenue protection priorities", including the 15 per cent fare hike that took effect on Monday last week.

"The recent graduation of senior network officers is part of an ongoing recruitment and training process, with the first officers graduating in September 2010," the spokesman said.

"The new and existing officers were deployed in the lead up to Christmas and over the Christmas/New Year period with a primary focus on passenger safety during the busy period of celebrations."

Robert Dow, from commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track, said although his organisation wanted a better fare structure, it supported measures to prevent fare evasion.

Mr Dow said paying passengers would be upset to see others dodging fares.

"Our view is we think the average public transport passenger is quite comfortable with the fact there is an active ticket enforcement program and they [transit officers] also act to ensure security and safety as well," he said.

Late last year, LNP transport spokesman Scott Emerson accused the government of failing to ensure powers to prevent anti-social behaviour were being used on the public transport network.

It came after Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed senior network officers had not used their powers to detain in more than a year.

Ms Palaszczuk said the officers were trained to communicate and negotiate before using force.

The government argues the January 2 fare increase was necessary to fund extra services, but also introduced an incentive allowing Go Card users free travel after they take 10 journeys in any Monday-to-Sunday week.

The Liberal National Party has promised free travel after nine journeys in a week if it wins office in the looming election, but has stopped short of vowing to ease fare hikes, citing the state's debt levels.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/card-checkers-go-out-in-force-20120109-1prp9.html

[Mozz]

Used the old rattler to travel to and from Roma Street parklands last Sunday - left around 3pm to travel back to Oxley and I reckon I saw at least 15 or so translink officers on or around the Roma street platforms and yes indeed 3 hopped on the Ipswich train and checked gocards and tickets - reaping at least 3 fare evaders that I saw.