Article: Risk-taking commuters caught out and stung

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

Risk-taking commuters caught out and stung

Risk-taking commuters caught out and stung

    by: Greg Thom
    From: Herald Sun
    November 11, 2011 12:00AM

MORE than 120,000 Victorian commuters have been fined almost $10 million this year on the state's public transport system.

Travellers have been stung for hundreds of offences ranging from fare evasion to train surfing.

One traveller was even out of pocket for allowing their dog to occupy a seat on a suburban train, denying it to paying passengers.

Authorities issued more than 97,000 infringement notices alone for fare evasion related-offences by the end of September - more than 359 a day.

The Department of Transport statistics reveal the outer western suburb of Werribee and surrounds are home to the city's biggest population of public transport outlaws.

More than 2198 people listed their address falling within postcode 3030 after being busted by authorities on the transport network.

The next-biggest group were Melbourne residents (2062 fines), followed by St Albans (2047) St Kilda (2036) and Reservoir (1865).

The statistics obtained exclusively by the Herald Sun also revealed:

MEN outnumbered women when it came to fines for misdemeanours on transport;

MORE than 964 commuters were slugged for giving an incorrect name or address to transport authorities;

A TOTAL of 578 travellers this year have been fined for drinking alcohol on public transport or related areas such as train stations;

FOUL-mouthed commuters were issued with more than 621 notices;

AN astonishing 133 train travellers were caught risking life and limb riding outside moving train carriages.

Despite several high-profile deaths involving railway crossings this year, the number of pedestrians prepared to take on an approaching train has increased.

More than 863 people have been fined so far this year for ignoring flashing lights and other warnings to dash across railway tracks, eclipsing the 226 in 2010.

Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the number of fines for fare evaders showed they will be caught.

"Fare evasion costs Victorian taxpayers $80 million a year, which is money that could be invested into the network; so those who fail to pay their way are ripping off all public transport users," he said.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said the fines for fare evasion suggested people were still willing to take their chances travelling without a ticket.

"Some people know it is rare to have their ticket checked and are willing to take the risk.