What are the consequences of travelling on a train without a Valid ticket in your country?

Question

What kind of system is in place to check tickets? And do you think that the penalties are fair?

(Dont 4get to write what country your in..)

Thanks

Answer 1

In the western part of the US, you have a choice between death by slow torture or hiring out for the UP.

I don't recommend the latter.

Answer 2

Belfast - checked by conductors and station staff, penalties are fines of up to £1000 - I reckon that's pretty fair - fare evasion is a big problem and can contibute to real paying passengers fares going up in the long run.

Answer 3

I live in Dallas, TX, and they charge stiff fines if you fail to present a valid ticket to the transit police.

From the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) website: "Without proof of payment, you could be heavily fined. Everyone needs to pay to ride."

Answer 4

In the UK you can get heavily fined and even thrown into prison. On long distance trains, tickets are checked on train by guys known locally as 'grippers'.They usually come round after each station stop, looking at the tickets of people who got on there.  There was a policy to make stations 'open'. i.e. you could get on to the platforms without tickets, but some companies are stopping this as it was seen as contributing towards to massive fares evasion. On local trains there is less checking of tickets, but some stations have automatic barriers. These are universal across the London Underground, for example.

And yes, penalties are fair. Not paying is theft, no different to shop lifting and revenue evasion puts prices up for those of us who do pay.

Answer 5

I live in America.  Here they have conductors come around to check the tickets once you get on the trains, and the long distance trains also have conductors on the platforms at some stations to check your tickets before you get on, but that's mostly to direct you to the appropriate carriage.  If you do not have a valid ticket, a number of things can happen.  On the commuter railroad, they make you buy a ticket on board, which is always an option if you're racing to catch the train.  If you do not have sufficient fare, they have you get off of the train at the soonest stop.  If you are a repeat offender, or on one of the long haul trains, you can have to pay a fine, or possibly go to jail (I think).  I feel that the fines are fare, and having to purchase a ticket on board, or getting off at the next stop if you don't have the fare is also fine, but having to go to jail (which I could be wrong about) is a bit extreme.

Answer 6

I live in Perth, and if you get caught without a ticket you get a small fine, about $30. Many people evade fares, because there are bugger all inspectors.

The system of being able to buy a ticket from the conductor is the best, i think.

Answer 7

Some lines in the US,there may not be facilities to sell you a ticket before you board.  On those trains, the conductor is equipped to sell you a ticket on the spot (he has the tickets, punch, big wallet of change money, etc.)  So getting caught with no ticket is just normal and you handle it by buying a ticket.