Jumping over turnstiles, strolling into the bus from the back door and walking through the emergency door in the subway stations. According to the NYPD, police arrested 1,228 people for fare beating over the past year.
Fare beaters, people who skip their metro fare, cost the MTA $100 million a year, according to the agency. The New York State Senate is looking to increase the fine for fare beaters, and many New Yorkers say they are glad to hear it.
“It’s not fair because I have to pay, why shouldn’t you?” said 30-year-old, Julie Gonzales, as she was walking out of the F train station on Broadway and Lafayette Street.
According to an MTA report, 18.5 million people didn’t pay their subway fare in 2009, an average of over 50,000 New Yorkers everyday.
Current allows the MTA imposes a fine of up to $100, and another $50 fine if the person does not pay the fine or respond to a summons. The proposed law would allow the MTA to bump the fine to as much as $500.
Jann Layton, 28, said it’s not worth the risk.
“Why would I pay $100 when I can pay $2.50. Who wants to pay a hundred bucks to go on the subway? she said.
“It’s embarrassing to have someone stop you for $2.50,” agreed 47-year-old school secretary Selina Pauhall.
According to NYPD records the report estimated that a routine offender could expect to get a $100 citation once every six to 13 weeks (the average number of times they get caught), which is actually cheaper than spending the $162 it costs to buy six weekly MetroCard.
Some riders say that the fare ride is too expensive. Fare beater Shelley Wu says she rarely pays her metro fare. Although she has been caught skipping her fare at the 34th Street Station, she will continue to evade the MTA, she says, fare because it’s cheaper than buying a MetroCard.
“It’s a free ride and the MTA sucks so you gotta screw with them,” she said.
Zarif, 17, says he has jumped the turnstile in the past.
“Usually to save money, but sometimes I’m in a hurry and the machines don’t work so instead of going to the station with the booth, I just jump” he said. “Not proud of it, by the way. “
The proposed state law, which was introduced by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, was passed by the State Senate and needs to be approved by the Assembly.
“The MTA and its fare-paying riders shouldn’t have to spend tens of millions of dollars more each year paying for other people’s illegal free rides. At a time when every dollar counts, the MTA needs stronger tools to discourage fare-evasion. Higher fines would create a stronger deterrent and remove the incentive which actually encourages people to try and beat the system,” Sen. Fuschillo said in a statement.
Jai Min Luo, a 16- year-old high school student, said she was glad to hear of the proposal.
“They are receiving a service so they should pay for it,” she said.
The NYC Transit Department of Security will be also be increasing its Eagle Team Force. which helps serve as a deterrent against fare evasion and to assist the NYPD, notifying them about “hot spots,” locations that are identified as common stops for turnstile jumpers.
“This is very much a collaborative effort between NYC Transit and the NYPD, who have been doing a tremendous job of enforcement,” said NYC Transit President Thomas F. Prendergast. The value of the Eagle Teams will be in helping customers understand that this is not a free service while alerting the NYPD to the areas where we are experiencing problems.”
But it might not stop some people.
It’s an option to do it, so I do it. I have never paid for a metro card,” Said John, who lives in the Lower East Side “Even if I got caught I wouldn’t pay the fine.”