Massive Fines Loom as MBTA Struggles to Catch Fare Evaders in Crackdown.
Over two months into its new policy, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has failed to issue a single citation to riders who dodge paying their fares. Instead, it has handed out 85 warnings to passengers caught not having paid.
The MBTA's fare engagement representatives have been making appearances at subway stations and on buses since September 8, issuing warnings to those found without paying. According to the agency, these representatives will be present on certain trips but not all of them.
Riders who are first found out of compliance with fare payment face a citation followed by fines that can add up quickly. If an individual accumulates multiple citations, the maximum fine could reach as high as $150.
The new policy was put in place after the Trump administration threatened to withdraw federal support for the MBTA unless it took steps to improve safety and prevent crime. One recent incident on a bus in Roxbury highlighted the need for such measures.
In response to these concerns, the CEO of the MBTA has emphasized the importance of collecting fare revenue as a matter of responsibility and fairness for all riders.
While the new policy has been met with some resistance from passengers, it remains to be seen how successful the MBTA will be in achieving its goal of reducing fare evasion.
Over two months into its new policy, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has failed to issue a single citation to riders who dodge paying their fares. Instead, it has handed out 85 warnings to passengers caught not having paid.
The MBTA's fare engagement representatives have been making appearances at subway stations and on buses since September 8, issuing warnings to those found without paying. According to the agency, these representatives will be present on certain trips but not all of them.
Riders who are first found out of compliance with fare payment face a citation followed by fines that can add up quickly. If an individual accumulates multiple citations, the maximum fine could reach as high as $150.
The new policy was put in place after the Trump administration threatened to withdraw federal support for the MBTA unless it took steps to improve safety and prevent crime. One recent incident on a bus in Roxbury highlighted the need for such measures.
In response to these concerns, the CEO of the MBTA has emphasized the importance of collecting fare revenue as a matter of responsibility and fairness for all riders.
While the new policy has been met with some resistance from passengers, it remains to be seen how successful the MBTA will be in achieving its goal of reducing fare evasion.
. Like, what's the point of handing out warnings if we're just gonna get fined anyway? It feels like they're just trying to squeeze every last penny out of us. And don't even get me started on how inconsistent this policy is - 85 warnings and zero citations? That doesn't seem very "fair" at all 
. I think they should be focusing on making public transportation more affordable, not punishing people for being poor 
. We need to talk about the root causes of fare evasion here, like income inequality and lack of job opportunities... this isn't just about money 
? But seriously, I think it's great that they're trying to hold people accountable for paying their fares, especially after all those incidents on the bus. Still, I'm not sure how effective this policy is going to be...
I mean, what's the point of having these fare engagement reps show up if they're just gonna hand out warnings like candy? Shouldn't they be catching and fining people instead? This whole thing feels like a waste of resources... like, why bother having the CEO all hyped about collecting fares when no one's actually getting caught? It's like, what's the real goal here? 
i cant believe the mbta is cracking down on fare evaders like this! 85 warnings already? thats not bad, they're just getting started 
cant say im lovin the new policy but idc if its effective or not. lets see how it plays out over time 
It's about time we got our act together and started paying up when we're riding the T. But at the same time, 85 warnings and no citations? That seems a bit light to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for not being too harsh on people who forget their wallets (I've been there myself!). But still, if you're gonna crack down, let's do it! 
.
. If it's so easy to evade the system, why bother? Maybe they should just raise prices and call it a day 
. What's next, gonna start fining people for using public transportation to get to work?
. Maybe they should offer more flexible payment options or something