Ministerial Statement: Blitz sends a clear message to fare evaders

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
11/02/2008

Blitz sends a clear message to fare evaders

More than 2000 non-ticket holders have been hit with fines and warnings as a fare evasion blitz continues across the QR Citytrain network.

Minister for Transport John Mickel said since the crackdown began on January 9, TransLink transit officers had issued 407 on-the-spot fines of $150 and 1781 warnings on weekday mornings.

"Fare evasion is really unfair on the people who do the right thing, not to mention its impact on the revenue directed back into subsidised fares and infrastructure," Mr Mickel said.

"This is a reminder to passengers that they must ensure they have enough time and spare change to buy a valid ticket before they board a train - it's the law.

"We've said it time and time again - anyone travelling on Citytrain services who approaches the reverse ticket window without a valid reason for not buying a ticket risks being hit with a $150 fine.

"Unfortunately the figures indicate not everyone is heeding the warning and transit officers will remain out in force getting the message across."

Mr Mickel said passengers travelling from an unattended station where the ticket machine was not in use were still permitted to buy a ticket from the reverse ticket window at CBD Citytrain stations.

"Transit officers are notified immediately of any ticketing machines which are not in use across the Citytrain network, and this helps them verify passengers' claims."

The blitz came after a Citytrain Fare Evasion survey revealed fare evaders were costing TransLink $10 million annually.

QR Passenger Services Executive General Manager Andy Taylor urged commuters to "be fair and pay the fare".

"A person may think to them self that buying a $3 ticket doesn't seem like a big deal but when a lot of people think like this, it is a very big deal," Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said actual staff were featured in a poster campaign currently on trains and stations warning people not to risk a fine and to buy a ticket before they travel.

"I believe promoting transit officers who work in the job through these posters is a great idea as it raises awareness about their role and responsibilities across the network.

"These officers love their job - they are there to provide quality customer assistance, a security presence on the network and deal with fare evasion.

"So please, prevent them from having to issue you with a fine or a warning and simply buy your ticket."

HOW TO AVOID FINES AND TRAVEL SAFE

Passengers travelling on the Citytrain and Translink networks must:

? Buy a ticket from their originating station;

? Clearly display the valid ticket to the transit officer at their destination with the valid date, time and zone/s travelled; and

? If requested by an authorised transit officer, supply your name, age and date of birth for further identification verification.

? While waiting for a train, use the Core Safety Zones marked with a blue and white stripped line on the majority of station platforms. These areas are covered by CCTV surveillance cameras, are well lit and have a help phone nearby.

?For additional security after dark, check the timetable for Guardian Train services. These services will have private security guards onboard.

For more information visit: www.qr.com.au


February 11, 2008

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[ozbob]

Travelling without a valid ticket without a valid reason is fare evasion.

Failing to tag on, or early tag off with a Go Card is only deserving of a  small fine ($5 at the moment, $10 from mid year) although this is specifically defined in the act as fare evasion.

?

[Derwan]

TransLink officers will be issued with a hand-held card reader.  Scanning your card mid-journey will reveal whether you touched on.  If not, it will be no different to being caught without a ticket - and a $150 fine may apply.

What people are misinterpreting is that if you fail to touch on, but then touch "off" at your destination, the fixed amount of $5 (and later $10) will apply.  Same as if you touch on at the start, but not off at the end of your journey.

Put simply, forget to touch your card at either end of your journey and you'll pay the fixed amount.  Get caught mid-journey without having touched on and you'll cop a $150 fine.