Article: Citytrain catches 133 fare evaders daily but most let off

[ozbob]

From Brisbane mX online Courier Mail click here!

Citytrain catches 133 fare evaders daily but most let off

Citytrain catches 133 fare evaders daily but most let off
Article from: MX

Ursula Heger of mX

September 25, 2008 12:45pm

MORE than 130 Citytrain passengers are being caught every day for fare evasion but many are avoiding fines.

Figures show more fare evaders are getting away with a caution than being fined.

The Queensland Rail (QR) figures provided to mX today show that of the average 133 passengers being nabbed by transit officers each day, only 56 are being fined.

Nevertheless, the figures for the past five months suggest Translink is still pocketing $3 million-plus in fines courtesy of the almost 21,000 fare evasion fines of $150 handed out each year.

If it fined each fare evader it caught, the transport authority's coffers would benefit to the tune of $7.3 million each year.

The figures did not include fines for other offences such as eating or smoking on trains, or harassing other passengers.

QR said the proportion of the 185,000 passengers on Citytrains every day that were checked varied.

However the number of fare evaders has dropped in the past few months to 3577 in August, down from 3926 in July, 4099 in June and 4756 in May.

QR general manager Paul Scurrah said $45 million was spent annually on security and safety programs.

He also warned that while trying to skip the fare could set you back $150, failure to produce a ticket when asked or refusing to give your name to officers can cost you the same amount.

You could also be fined $150 for putting your feet on the seat.

[ButFli]

Fine the f*** out of them and put the profits into reduced Go Card fares.