On-the-spot public transport fines will be scrapped and faster myki top-ups introduced

ON-the-spot public transport fines will be scrapped and faster myki top-ups introduced to try to fix problems plaguing Victoria’s public transport ticket and infringement system.

On-the-spot public transport fines will be scrapped and faster myki top-ups introduced.

ON-the-spot public transport fines will be scrapped and faster myki top-ups introduced to try to fix problems plaguing Victoria’s public transport ticket and infringement system.

An ombudsman report released this morning shows the scale of issues besetting the state’s fines regimen, forcing the government to reform its approach to fare evasion.

The report highlights cases of vulnerable people, including those with a disability or who were students, who were told to pay automatic penalties but later had them reversed.

This included students in school uniform who were penalised for not carrying a student card, and a 19-year-old with an intellectual disability who didn’t understand what a “penalty fare” was.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass said the theory of on-the-spot fines creating an efficient transport fines system had not played out.
“Without appropriate use of discretion however, the drift net catches large numbers

of unsuspecting tourists, students, homeless people and numerous other ‘one-off’ evaders,

many of whom are left baffled, distressed and almost invariably poorer,” she writes.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass said 80 per cent of more than 490 complaints she received about public transport, were fare evasion enforcement-related.

Ms Glass said parents had wasted time and money pursuing cases of children being targeted.

“It is even more ludicrous when the concession is a student card, and your daughter was issued with an infringement even though she is plainly a child in school uniform,” she says.

As a result of the scathing findings, Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan has revealed a plan to overhaul the myki system, including updating technology and potential law changes.

Key changes to the problem-plagued myki system include new trials of quick top up machines, and reducing the time for online top-ups from 24 hours to 90 minutes.

In the long term, criminal offences could be introduced for repeat offenders in a bid to crackdown on freeloaders rather than accidental fare evaders.

First-time offenders are more likely to be warned rather than have the book thrown at them, with ticket inspectors given smart phones or iPads to assess their full travel history.
This could see people who have never had a fine and used myki regularly for a couple of years given a warning.

A government report shows that serial offenders are costing the taxpayer about $53.9 million.
People who are first-time offenders or who “accidentally” fare evade are estimated to cost taxpayers close to $4 million.

Fines are currently $223 and are likely to stay at that level.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said on-the-spot fines of $75 had created confusion and needed to be changed.
“It penalises and intimidates the most vulnerable, while providing an incentive to travel without a ticket,” she said.

“There’ll be quicker top-ups, better training and resources for Authorised Officers, and a clearer process for passengers if they get a fine.”

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