Fare Cheats
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Letter from Goh Rong Kai
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"As an independent regulator, the Public Transport Council (PTC) is entrusted with the challenging mission of both safeguarding the interest of the public and ensuring the long-term viability of public transport operators. It aims to strike an optimum balance between the two,'' says the Mission Statement of the PTC.
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So, I was surprised by the PTC rushing to support public transport operators.
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Firstly, by accepting the statistics provided by the operators as is, it fails in its mission statement.
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I would suggest that the PTC commission an independent audit to provide a more transparent figure instead. The PTC should also regulate closely the services of the public transport operators.
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For example, if bus operators design routes that are extremely long, commuters are indirectly forced to pay extra. What has the PTC done to ensure commuters get a fair deal? .
What surprised me was the decision to create another "fine" situation and add to the many fines Singapore has. How then can one learn to be responsible for oneself?
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In the 1960s and 70s, when we had bus conductors, the problem of underpaying existed.
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With today's technology, we should be able to eliminate the problem. We need to study why and how it happens, not just rush to implement fines.
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TransitLink, the PTC and transport operators must work together to enhance the system, resolve the issue of overcharging commuters and improve the long waiting times (especially during off-peak hours) before pointing a finger at commuters
Extracted from Today 24th Oct 2005
Feel free to commment, and follow up with the replies . -
do they even care?
members of the PTC dont even use public transport. -
Nowadays, the bus conductors and inspectors are using one kind of special equipment to determine fare cheats, whether using OMO-DRF system (for SMRT), OTS system (for SBS Transit), especially passengers who are paying by cash. For TMO, bus conductors will check every passengers to ensure that they pay the correct fare to their destinations.
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Yeah, you have rightly pointed out a valid point.
just wander what cars they drive to work? -
but no one or anything is done to ensure we are not overcharged.Originally posted by Apex-LW'21:Nowadays, the bus conductors and inspectors are using one kind of special equipment to determine fare cheats, whether using OMO-DRF system (for SMRT), OTS system (for SBS Transit), especially passengers who are paying by cash. For TMO, bus conductors will check every passengers to ensure that they pay the correct fare to their destinations. -
some conductors simply mo chap one.Originally posted by Apex-LW'21:Nowadays, the bus conductors and inspectors are using one kind of special equipment to determine fare cheats, whether using OMO-DRF system (for SMRT), OTS system (for SBS Transit), especially passengers who are paying by cash. For TMO, bus conductors will check every passengers to ensure that they pay the correct fare to their destinations.
see people sleeping, just pass by and pretend not to see these "sleeping" people.... -
Actually, on selected OMO services, bus inspectors started using special equipments.Originally posted by dragg:but no one or anything is done to ensure we are not overcharged. -
Just wandering,
what constructive things have PTC done to the general public??? -
Since the public buses had suffer loss due to fare cheats, the proposed law is a heavy fine or a jail sentence.Originally posted by phillipC:Just wandering,
what constructive things have PTC done to the general public??? -
Surely they've seen a reduction in loss after switching from the old Transitlink cards to the current EZ-link cards. It's not practically possible to see a 0% loss. Some people are bound to find ways to cheat. Could it be possible that making an effort to eliminate that slight loss actually cost them money?
And how come it's ok that some people are overcharged and not know about it? Nobody but commuters have made that kind of noise. -
Are there any more TMO services in Singapore these days? I remember 170, the last TMO route, went OMO back in 1993.Originally posted by Apex-LW'21:Actually, on selected OMO & TMO services, bus inspectors started using special equipments. -
the way these companies operate (banks, public transport, airlines, ports etc) is very straightforward.
they must not only make money, they must make a certain minimum to be satisfied.
otherwise they will retrench, increase price etc. -
Sorry, my mistake, there is no more TMO svcs now.Originally posted by iveco:Are there any more TMO services in Singapore these days? I remember 170, the last TMO route, went OMO back in 1993.
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I just saw a fare cheat on 145 today(An old man). He did not want to pay for his bus trip which was supposed to be rather long and BC refused to move out of Toa Payoh Int till he pays or get down the bus. The BC did not resort to legal action as a woman stood up to pay for his bus fare and asked him to keep the ticket. How incondersirate of him!!!
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maybe he has no money.Originally posted by SBS9889U:I just saw a fare cheat on 145 today(An old man). He did not want to pay for his bus trip which was supposed to be rather long and BC refused to move out of Toa Payoh Int till he pays or get down the bus. The BC did not resort to legal action as a woman stood up to pay for his bus fare and asked him to keep the ticket. How incondersirate of him!!! -
tat's not a cheat lah... cheat are those who hide their non-payment...this old man guang ming zheng da no pay... hero lah...hahahahahahaaaaaOriginally posted by SBS9889U:I just saw a fare cheat on 145 today(An old man). He did not want to pay for his bus trip which was supposed to be rather long and BC refused to move out of Toa Payoh Int till he pays or get down the bus. The BC did not resort to legal action as a woman stood up to pay for his bus fare and asked him to keep the ticket. How incondersirate of him!!! -
maybe i should try also.Originally posted by sgboy2004:tat's not a cheat lah... cheat are those who hide their non-payment...this old man guang ming zheng da no pay... hero lah...hahahahahahaaaaa
see if anyone pays for me.
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Members of the public who have a sense of compassion will help to pay for people in need, like the old man stated above.Originally posted by dragg:maybe i should try also.
see if anyone pays for me.
Haha...if you're not old or handicapped, the passengers won't wanna pay for you
...they will help the driver kick you out even... 
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I doubt the authorities will be able to enforce the fine on fare evaders effectively. Fare evaders can always choose to:
- alight the bus before the inspector reaches him/her
- always choose to alight the bus immediately even if caught red-handed by the inspector (instead of paying the fine)
- what can the inspector do is the fare evader says he got no money?
- even if the inspector insists on taking down his/her NRIC no. and particulars, they can always say they don't have it with them.
And the most funny thing is :
- Fare evaders will be fined $20 if caught for non-payment or underpayment
- Fined $50 for using of concession cards.
I find this really stupid. If you were the fare evader, which would you admit? Of course I'd rather admit non-payment as the fine will be only $20, instead of admitting that I've been abusing the concession pass ($50 fine) right?
In Melbourne(Australia)(case study) :
A group of about 2-5 inspectors conduct ticket inspections as a group (to "surround the passengers") and fare evaders face a $100 summon (to be paid at the centre). Most of these inspectors look tough and big size, unlike Singapore's inspectors who had to work alone. Australian ticket inspectors can detain the fare evader and even call the police to arrest them if they try to escape or fail to produce their proof of identification. Sometimes, Australian police also conduct ticket inspections on trains!! -
Who knows? The BC might have been observing this old man for quite some time for failing to pay his fares repeatedly till he cannot tahan anymore and insisted that he pay up for the journey this time round...(maybe kanna "marked" by the BC leow..)Originally posted by SBS9889U:I just saw a fare cheat on 145 today(An old man). He did not want to pay for his bus trip which was supposed to be rather long and BC refused to move out of Toa Payoh Int till he pays or get down the bus. The BC did not resort to legal action as a woman stood up to pay for his bus fare and asked him to keep the ticket. How incondersirate of him!!! -
Sheesh.. was he really poor, or did he get on the bus expecting somebody to pay for him just because his wasting their time?
I've had people who approach me in the streets asking for money to get back home and stuff and they don't exactly look poor..
And they're asking for $5 and stuff like that when I told them that there's a direct bus and I can lend you $2 for that.. But they refuse, saying they need to buy food too...
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there is one at bedok central. she is dressed proper and carries an umbrella.Originally posted by PhyrePhox:Sheesh.. was he really poor, or did he get on the bus expecting somebody to pay for him just because his wasting their time?
I've had people who approach me in the streets asking for money to get back home and stuff and they don't exactly look poor..
And they're asking for $5 and stuff like that when I told them that there's a direct bus and I can lend you $2 for that.. But they refuse, saying they need to buy food too...
speak english too.
unbelievable. -
Thats scary being arrested by the police for just not paying the correct fare.Originally posted by SBS3688Y:I doubt the authorities will be able to enforce the fine on fare evaders effectively. Fare evaders can always choose to:
- alight the bus before the inspector reaches him/her
- always choose to alight the bus immediately even if caught red-handed by the inspector (instead of paying the fine)
- what can the inspector do is the fare evader says he got no money?
- even if the inspector insists on taking down his/her NRIC no. and particulars, they can always say they don't have it with them.
And the most funny thing is :
- Fare evaders will be fined $20 if caught for non-payment or underpayment
- Fined $50 for using of concession cards.
I find this really stupid. If you were the fare evader, which would you admit? Of course I'd rather admit non-payment as the fine will be only $20, instead of admitting that I've been abusing the concession pass ($50 fine) right?
In Melbourne(Australia)(case study) :
A group of about 2-5 inspectors conduct ticket inspections as a group (to "surround the passengers") and fare evaders face a $100 summon (to be paid at the centre). Most of these inspectors look tough and big size, unlike Singapore's inspectors who had to work alone. Australian ticket inspectors can detain the fare evader and even call the police to arrest them if they try to escape or fail to produce their proof of identification. Sometimes, Australian police also conduct ticket inspections on trains!! -
Poor? He has a lot of cards with him, not EZLINK and cash. Was ignorant too, not "caring" about the BC and looked proud when the full bus load looked at him.Originally posted by PhyrePhox:Sheesh.. was he really poor, or did he get on the bus expecting somebody to pay for him just because his wasting their time?
I've had people who approach me in the streets asking for money to get back home and stuff and they don't exactly look poor..
And they're asking for $5 and stuff like that when I told them that there's a direct bus and I can lend you $2 for that.. But they refuse, saying they need to buy food too... -
That's for extreme cases only; eg the fare evader refuses to provide any proof of identification, tries to escape or try to be funny. In fact, I came across a newspaper article in Melbourne that the court sentenced a man to a day's jail for refusing to pay his $100 summon for fare evasion repeatedly.Originally posted by 5454:Thats scary being arrested by the police for just not paying the correct fare.