Re: [Melb] Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor

["DJ" <no@home.com>]

I agree with the bottom, sounds good




Railvic <railvic@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message
3AC914F6.3366B72B@iprimus.com.au">news:3AC914F6.3366B72B@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