Sound Transit has been working for more than three years to improve its fare enforcement system. It is trying to strike a balance between collecting fares and not financially burdening those who cannot pay to ride with court dates and collections fees, issues that can impact credit scores, complicate rental applications, and cause other problems.
The new policy increases the number of warnings to two over a 12-month period. A third fare evasion would come with a $50 fine. A fourth fare evasion would be a $70 fine. But you can get those penalties waived by going to a Sound Transit focus group or education program. A fifth fare evasion in 12 months would translate to a civil penalty of $124: Sound Transit would be able to take the rider to civil court.
If riders who are not paying refuse to give identification, which is happening 76% of the time riders are contacted by Fare Ambassadors, how can you track warnings or evasions? Under the old policy, riders who refused to pay were met at the next station by a King County Sheriff’s deputy, and identity could be determined. That doesn’t happen anymore.And that leaves the message that everyone can ride for free, as long as they refuse to show I-D.
To recap, Sound Transit has spent more than three years coming up with a new fare enforcement plan, full of five steps of warnings, eliminating the sheriff’s department from the entire process, but the agency did not create a way to track who is getting warnings. It’s estimated that more than 40% of riders are not paying right now.
Oh, please tell me, again, how I should give up the freedom of my car to ride in a packed cylinder with the kind of people who evade fares and refuse to show ID. No thanks.
Is the amount of money that S.T. is losing on fares more than over budget delays and poor planning has cost tax payers. The bus could be free to ride if S.T. ever hit construction estimates. Hypocrites
The organization who fleeces people annually by over-valuing their vehicles to pad their RTA tax obligation is complaining about getting robbed. While I generally do not condone dishonest behavior of any kind, I find it difficult to muster sympathy for Sound Transit.
What a clown show. And soon everyone under 18 will ride all transit for free (including ferries)! 🤡
NEWSGUYSULLY this is almost exactly the same issue police are having with the Pursuit Bill BS. If criminals run from the police, they know they will get away. 'Wokeness before good policy' should be our state's motto right now.