Re: [Melb] Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor

[Railvic <railvic@iprimus.com.au>]

Dear all,

It's about time!  Why should honest customers subside those who choose
to do otherwise.  We could also then get rid off those idiots and
druggies travelling up and down the system all day without having valid
tickets.  If such behaviour is not acceptable elsewhere, why should it
be acceptable in public transport system.  Perhaps one way to reduce
fare evasion is to increase the fine from the current $100 to say $300
on the spot.  At the same time, ticket inspectors should be dressed in
causal clothing at all times.  While those who cannot pay the fine, the
court should give them say 3 months of community work for each fine.

What is the fine for evading tickets in other Australian capital cities?

Railvic

DL wrote:
> 
> Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor
> 
> http://www.theage.com.au/news/2001/04/03/FFXMUE6J1LC.html
> 
> By SUSHI DAS
> TRANSPORT REPORTER
> Tuesday 3 April 2001
> 
> Melbourne's private transport operators were criticised by the State
> Government yesterday for failing to deal with "chronic" fare evasion.
> 
> Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said the government was having to
> "encourage" the transport operators to deal with fare evasion.
> 
> Since privatisation of the public transport system in August, 1999, the
> private operators had not come up with any initiatives to deal with the
> problem, he said.
> 
> Mr Batchelor said the private companies, which are subsidised by the
> government, were more likely to take an interest in reducing fare evasion
> once their subsidies began falling in years to come.
> 
> Fare evasion is believed to be higher on trams than trains.
> 
> Yarra Trams said about 12 per cent of passengers evaded fares, although on
> some routes up to 25 per cent of passengers were not buying a ticket.
> 
> M>Trams (formerly Swanston Trams) said between 12 and 15 per cent of
> passengers evaded fares.
> 
> Mr Batchelor said: "I think it (evasion) is far too high and we think the
> private companies ought to be doing something about it ... they ought to be
> going out there chasing that revenue.
> 
> "Their subsidies are going to reduce over time, so on the issue of fare
> evasion they will become more focused, being driven by subsidy reductions.
> 
> "But I would have thought that right from the beginning they would try to
> get on top of the fare evasion issue and we are trying to help them."
> 
> Since 1999, National Express, which runs M>Trams, has received $139.4
> million in government subsidies. In 2011 government support will fall to
> nearly $20 million.
> 
> Metrolink, which runs Yarra Trams, has received $114.7 million since 1999.
> In the last two years of its 12-year franchise deal, it is expected to be
> profitable enough to return up to $5 million to the government.
> 
> The government has indicated it would consider any strategy put forward by
> private operators to deal with fare evasion.
> 
> Mr Batchelor rejected an informal suggestion by one of the private operators
> to offer fare dodgers the option of buying $80 worth of tickets instead of a
> fine.
> 
> "We don't believe they (evaders) should be lightly let off ... There will
> always be a system of fines operating here in Melbourne, and if you don't
> have a ticket you could render yourself liable for a fine," he said.
> 
> Yarra Trams and M>Trams both said yesterday that they had not formally
> raised the prospect of scrapping fines with the government.
> 
> A move to scrap fines would require an amendment to the Transport Act.
> 
> Both companies denied fare evasion was a low priority because their
> government subsidies were still high.
> 
> So far the companies have tried to discourage fare evasion by "working on"
> plans to increase the number of outlets selling tickets.
> 
> Yarra Trams is also believed to be considering asking for increased fines
> for repeat offenders.
> 
> Since privatisation, the government has funded "roving conductors" in a bid
> to reduce fare evasion by having a human presence on trams.
> 
> --
> Regards,
> David Lindstrom