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Fare evaders are ripping off an eye-watering amount every year from buses on the Gold Coast, as rorting remains rampant on the public transport system.

FARE evaders are ripping off almost $3 million a year from buses, confirming rorting remains rampant on the public transport system.

The Gold Coast Bulletin has previously reported that up to 500,000 passengers have barged on to buses without paying, with drivers hitting the fare evade button.

Similar rorting on the trams led authorities to mount a blitz, with almost 400 people caught in a month.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey told the Bulletin eight dedicated TransLink senior network officers at Southport were keeping passengers safe and providing a revenue protection service.

Ticket inspectors check the ticket of a passenger during a blitz on fare evaders.

GOLD COAST MAN’S FARE EVASION RAP SHEET 33 PAGES LONG

“Since January 1, 2018, network officers have deployed 2588 times on Surfside services and during this time they have issued about 1036 warnings and 208 penalty infringement notices,’’ Mr Bailey said.

“Although it’s not logistically possible to conduct revenue protection activities on all bus services, officers use an ‘anywhere, anytime’ approach to their patrols.

“Once on board a bus, their presence limits further fare evading as they are a highly visible deterrent, which in turn limits the number of fines issued.”

Mr Bailey said the majority of the 38,000 passengers who use the system were doing the right thing.

But improved enforcement showed fare evaders in 2017-18 had ripped off $2.7 million from revenue.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey believes most passengers are doing the right thing. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

“The revenue they are stealing could be reinvested in new and improved public transport services for all customers,” he said.

“We need all travellers to accept their responsibilities and we will continue to take measures to stamp out fare evasion.

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“I want to remind fare evaders that they face a penalty infringement notice of $261 if they are caught and can be hit with a maximum penalty of 40 penalty units or six months in jail for this offence.”

Public transport lobby groups believe a key reason for fare evasion continues to be the cost of fares.

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said fare evasion would be reduced if the Government agreed to freeze ticket prices for two years.

Mr Dow said the Government’s decision to change fare structures and decrease the number of zones in December 2016 had a positive impact.

“We still think, on the feedback we’re receiving, it’s still a bit excessive,” Mr Dow said.

Police patrolling on Surfside buses.

“We still think the fares should be frozen for two years. We think that would help get rid of the perception it is unaffordable.

“Fare evasion on buses is amazingly high. Drivers will challenge people but let them on anyway. Smart arses know this and they work the system.”

Mr Dow said the solution was more network enforcement officers as bus drivers should not be the “fare evasion police”.

A Bulletin Golden Age survey conducted early this year revealed Gold Coasters would use public transport in big numbers if fares were “fairer’’.

Seventy-six per cent of respondents said they would leave the car at home and catch a train to Brisbane if the fare was reduced by about half to $5.