On-the-spot penalty fares introduced for fare evaders in Victoria

IF you travel without a valid ticket on a tram, train, or bus, you could be issued an on-the-spot penalty fare of $75 or pay a heftier fine later. Darren Boon reports.

Fare evaders on public transport now have the option of paying an on-the-spot penalty fare of $75 or pay a $217 penalty later under a 12-month trial which began on August 10.

Commuters caught by authorised officers travelling without a valid ticket or failing to produce a valid ticket on request, travelling on a concession ticket without evidence of concession eligibility, or failing to produce evidence of concession eligibility could pay an on-the-spot penalty fare of $75, or have their names and addresses taken down and pay $217 later.

An offender waives the right to appeal, and to a refund in paying the on-the-spot penalty. Those with a valid legal defence should instead provide their names and address, and lodge an appeal upon receiving an infringement notice.

The Public Transport Victoria (PTV) website states, “The current process of taking a fare evader’s name and address and documenting the circumstances of the alleged offence is time consuming. The option to pay an On-the-spot Penalty Fare allows the matter to be dealt with and finalised quickly and efficiently. This means Authorised Officers can check more tickets, and this is expected to reduce fare evasion.”

This initiative will only be offered in the metropolitan area. Passengers may pay for the penalties on the spot through Visa, Mastercard or EFTPOS. No other forms of payment would be accepted, according to the PTV website.

The PTV has however advised commuters to “ensure they always travel with a valid Myki”.

For more details about this initiative, visit the PTV website.