Last week the Port Authority (PAT) released a five page document detailing “fare evasion and enforcement” as to how PAT plans to ensure payment on the light rail transit system as it moves to a cashless system but still maintains a “free fare zone” that covers Downtown and two stations on the North Side.
Last June we wrote a Brief on the 2017 fare changes and noted:
How will [PAT} make sure that someone who really is going beyond the free fare zone has paid? [A PAT] document says that “…Port Authority police officers may require riders in certain areas of the stations to show them their ConnectCard or ConnectTix to make sure they have paid their fare” and “Port Authority employees will have handheld validators and will go around in areas OUTSIDE the free fare zone to make sure everyone on board and in ‘paid zones’ (generally on platforms) has paid their fare”. But asking people at the free ride station to show their ConnectCard cannot deal with people who can claim they are merely taking a free ride—unless they are at the last stop before crossing the Mon. The only hope of catching free riders who abuse the system is to ask for proof of payment on the cars or while disembarking.
The policy released last week is not too far off from that frequently asked questions document PAT put together for the changes that are to go into effect August 1st. PAT police officers will be in charge of enforcement (“…the primary point of contact with passengers”). The police will enforce based on three provisions of the PA statutes (criminal trespass, theft of services, and access device fraud).
Basically once a rider enters the paid zone (beyond Station Square) the policy allows police to “…inspect passenger fare instruments both while on board the Light Rail Vehicles and off board at applicable light rail Stations while located in a ‘paid fare zone'”. Police can use validators (electronic scanners) or visual inspection to confirm payment. Punishment for not having a valid fare instrument varies based on first, second, or third offense, with information about the rider and the circumstances recorded in a log.
As we noted in the Brief, there may be folks who board in the free fare zone and ride past it who then claim they did not know they needed to pay. From the policy it appears the first such instance would get a warning–and then the police officer has the discretion to make the person exit the vehicle or ride to the desired stop and then pay when disembarking. Someone who is unwilling or unable to pay would be asked to leave the Paid Zone or be subject to criminal trespass.
