How come they don't check for tickets on the MTA rail?

Question

I went to the Tofu Festival yesterday in Little Tokyo. I took the MTA rail gree, blue and red lines to LA and back. I bought a $5 pass and no MTA employees asked to see it. That has happened many times before. One day, I was asked 3 times on each line. 95% of the time they don't check for tickets.

1. Is it just done at random periodically?

2. How come they don't ask more often?

3. Doesn't MTA lose money when people don't purchase tickets and ride for free?

4. How much does a citation cost for illegally riding the rail w/o paying?

Please help.

Answer 1

its done on the honor system

yes people do sometimes get away with but someday

doesnt last for ever and if they got caught without a ticket

the ticket is 250.00 plus community service.

not $150.00

its just done random but you never know where

a fare inspector or deputy will be one day they could be on

the train, the next day they could on the platforms,

or at the Blue Line/Green Line transit point

on the steps between the two lines

most people are honest so the few that do get away

beside  a 1.25 is a lot cheaper the 250 dollar ticket

Answer 2

If you don´t pay your Ticket, don´t wonder if fares and taxes go up.

Answer 3

i do not know what mta rail does in little tokyo, but i have a system like that and if you are caught without a ticket or pass, you will be fined 100.00 and maybe arrested. so some people skip out on buying a ticket and board the train and when the police come randomly onboard to check tickets they give the person a ticket and sometime they are arrested. i think they gain money like this because the fine is so high and so many people are caught. maybe 1 out of 5 trains may have cops board at a random time and stations.

Answer 4

IT'S ON THE TRUST SYSTEM, they announced it b4 it was built years ago.

Answer 5

I believe they check randomly to ensure that people are paying.  I don't know what the fine for not paying is but in mpls. the fine is $150.