Re: [Melb] Fare evasion being neglected: Batchelor

["news.foxall.com.au" <austaz@foxall.com.au>]

Excellent ideas.  However, maybe the on the spot fine needs to be even more
than $300.

I am about to pay around $1,700 for a yearly ticket.  (Zones 1+2+3).  It
frustrates me that there are so many other people getting a free ride at my
expense.

Peter.

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