Comments on: Dufty: Raise fare evasion fines to $500 max http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/ A transit riders' association for San Francisco Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: stiffyrednecking http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3809 stiffyrednecking Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:43:55 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3809 KIDS RIDE FREE !! Yes unless the Muni employee is wrong and the Muni Fare Inspector is using her imaginary discretionary powers to pick and chose who to write tickets for ?? Three teens got on the M line last Thursday July second 09 and fare inspectors asked to see POP and when they were found to have expired transfers they were instructed to go to the next car where the driver was and pay the fare. They complied and than it was our turn for POP. I showed my disabled sticker because I don't need a ticket but my friend's transfer had expired by forty minutes . I do not defend her having an expired transfer BUT I asked the Muni Fare Inspector " Why can't my friend go to the next car and pay her fare like the teenagers did?" I stood up and asked again in a clear but firm manner and I was ignored untill I raised my voice but not to the point where they would feel afraid of me but one of the MFI's said " It is our discretion". We got off at West Portal and I asked to speak to a Muni Inspector but the lady at the kiosk was very pleasant and answered my questions. She said " We(MUNI) can not ticket minors ". I ask you the people if a teenager can drive a car at sixteen and can receive a ticket from a police officer for traffic violations than why can't minors be ticketed for fare evasions ?? Cash helps the city coffers and so does community service for all fare evaders and yes even friends with expired transfers. Sincerely Keith Wayne Kemp KIDS RIDE FREE !!

Yes unless the Muni employee is wrong and the Muni Fare Inspector is using her imaginary discretionary powers to pick and chose who to write tickets for ??

Three teens got on the M line last Thursday July second 09 and fare inspectors asked to see POP and when they were found to have expired transfers they were instructed to go to the next car where the driver was and pay the fare.

They complied and than it was our turn for POP.

I showed my disabled sticker because I don’t need a ticket but my friend’s transfer had expired by forty minutes .

I do not defend her having an expired transfer BUT I asked the Muni Fare Inspector ” Why can’t my friend go to the next car and pay her fare like the teenagers did?”

I stood up and asked again in a clear but firm manner and I was ignored untill I raised my voice but not to the point where they would feel afraid of me but one of the MFI’s said ” It is our discretion”.

We got off at West Portal and I asked to speak to a Muni Inspector but the lady at the kiosk was very pleasant and answered my questions.

She said ” We(MUNI) can not ticket minors “.

I ask you the people if a teenager can drive a car at sixteen and can receive a ticket from a police officer for traffic violations than why can’t minors be ticketed for fare evasions ??

Cash helps the city coffers and so does community service for all fare evaders and yes even friends with expired transfers.

Sincerely
Keith Wayne Kemp

]]> By: sf4fun66 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3365 sf4fun66 Mon, 18 May 2009 23:16:53 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3365 Honestly, I don't think hiking the fines will do much. It's bad enough when riders commit offenses (eating, drinking, loud music, evading fares), but when transit police and MUNI employees look the other way and/or take advantage of the system themselves then you know it's a losing battle. Go ahead and hike the fares, charge for transfers, cut service...make public transit inconvenient and expensive for those who are honest and hardworking. After 15 years without a car (half of that time enjoying the transit systems in DC and NYC), I'm over SF public transit. Back to driving. Honestly, I don’t think hiking the fines will do much. It’s bad enough when riders commit offenses (eating, drinking, loud music, evading fares), but when transit police and MUNI employees look the other way and/or take advantage of the system themselves then you know it’s a losing battle. Go ahead and hike the fares, charge for transfers, cut service…make public transit inconvenient and expensive for those who are honest and hardworking. After 15 years without a car (half of that time enjoying the transit systems in DC and NYC), I’m over SF public transit. Back to driving.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3364 Andrew Mon, 18 May 2009 17:02:15 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3364 The other VERY important thing is to make sure the tickets are not thrown out - regardless of who the offender is. The new system of treating them like traffic tickets appears to be working better in this regard. The other VERY important thing is to make sure the tickets are not thrown out – regardless of who the offender is. The new system of treating them like traffic tickets appears to be working better in this regard.

]]> By: markballew http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3363 markballew Mon, 18 May 2009 16:44:13 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3363 A $75 first time offense makes sense considering the price of passes is going up to $55, but only if the chances of a first time offender being caught is high enough. There are a lot of buses that remain un-enforced, so it is still worth it to cheat instead of paying for pass or cash fare. If transit cheats can't figure out how to dodge fare inspectors and get ticketed three times, then certainly they should be fined $500. A $75 first time offense makes sense considering the price of passes is going up to $55, but only if the chances of a first time offender being caught is high enough. There are a lot of buses that remain un-enforced, so it is still worth it to cheat instead of paying for pass or cash fare.

If transit cheats can’t figure out how to dodge fare inspectors and get ticketed three times, then certainly they should be fined $500.

]]> By: Tim http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3362 Tim Mon, 18 May 2009 15:59:54 +0000 http://www.rescuemuni.org/2009/05/18/dufty-raise-fare-evasion-fines-to-500-max/#comment-3362 I agree with any and all proposals to penalize fare-evaders, and even more important I support any effort to nail the pigs who trash public transit vehicles and stations. But I also think MUNI should do a better job of making trash and recycling receptacles available at stations in particular. It remains to be seen how effective these stiffer penalties might benefit the overall ridership and cleanliness of the vehicles and stations if there isn't attention to enforcement. Ever take a ride on the #22 Fillmore bus after (or during) school transit/traffic hours? Awful. Or the T/K lightrail line after a Giants game? The signal would be loud and clear about not littering if there was visible enforcement activity, especially at peak times. I agree with any and all proposals to penalize fare-evaders, and even more important I support any effort to nail the pigs who trash public transit vehicles and stations. But I also think MUNI should do a better job of making trash and recycling receptacles available at stations in particular. It remains to be seen how effective these stiffer penalties might benefit the overall ridership and cleanliness of the vehicles and stations if there isn’t attention to enforcement. Ever take a ride on the #22 Fillmore bus after (or during) school transit/traffic hours? Awful. Or the T/K lightrail line after a Giants game? The signal would be loud and clear about not littering if there was visible enforcement activity, especially at peak times.

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