Metro turnstile jumpers, other cheaters caught in record numbers in 2015

Montreal's public transit authoritystopped a record number of commuters for fare evasion in 2015.

Statistics released this month by the Socit de transport de Montral (STM)show its inspectors handed out 9,007 tickets for various infractions last year, for a total of $1,309,101 in fines.

• STM handing out more fines for fare evasion

That's nearly 2,000 more people fined than in 2013 and 4,400 more than in 2014.

The fines are largely for fare evasion, but they also include other infractions, such as the use ofsomeone else's reduced fare pass and failure to keep proof that a fare waspurchased.

STM spokeswomanAmlie Rgis saidthere aren't any figures available yet for this year, but sheanticipates that the number of transit usersfinedwill stay at about the same level as in 2015.

Checking passes not bus driver's job

STM inspectors devote an average ofthree hours a day to checking riders.

At least once a year, eachone of the 68 metro stations and 220 bus lines needs to be checked.However, some transit users say they've been stopped numerous times as they got off buses at the same station.

Inspectors acknowledge not everyone is happy to see them, but they try not to hold people up too long.

"You have to, otherwise your shift is going to be long, trust me," said STM inspector Jonathan Poirier.

Although one mightassume allpassengers havepaid if they have made it onto the bus, Poirier says that's not always the case.

"Unfortunately, some people don't give their pass, said STM inspector Michael D'Amore."They're going to walk through.They won't say anything, and they'll sit down."

"That's not fair. Most of the people, they paid to get in."

Some bus drivers get spit on, physically abused.- STM inspector Jonathan Poirier

Poiriersays it's not the bus driver's job to check passes because doing socan expose them to abuse from riders.

"Some bus drivers get spit on, physically abused," said Poirier, who's been an inspector for five years. "It's part of our job, because his job is to drive the bus safely from A to B."

Rgis saidthere are more inspectors on the 121 Cte-Vertu/Sauv bus route the route on which, since March, a pilot project allows transit users with avalid weekly or monthly pass to enter through the rear door without validating their pass next to the driver.

If someone who hasn't paid afare or doesn't have a proof of purchase is caught, that riderwill get a $150 fine, plus pay $71 in administrative fees, for a total of $221.

On rare occasions that ridersrefuse to identify themselves, that rider will be arrested and levied a higher fine.

Jumping the turnstile

At the beginning of 2015, the STM started to move ticket sellers out of their booths at the Metro stations, encouraging agentsto wander around the station offering transit information and customer service.

• STM ticket agents to interact more with customers

By September, 36 stations will undertake that initiative, and it will be expanded to all Metro stations by the end of 2017.

However, having no one near the turnstiles is posing a challenge for inspectors. They saycommuters are still getting used to the practice andwhen some transit users don't see a seller at the booth, they jump the turnstile.

"They see there's nobody there, and they take a chance," said D'Amore.

Round the clock in the underground city

With 172 inspectors working around theclock, there's a lot to do.

"It's like a big city, but an underground city," said Poirier. "There's a lot of people on the Metro. People don't realize that because, in their mind, they are going to work, which is perfectly normal, but there's a lot of people out there."

When inspectors are not checking passes or tickets, they also make sure the stations are safe.

That can mean anything from ensuring doors aren't blocked to helping passengers navigate the system.

During events such as the Canadian Grand Prix, the Montreal Jazz Festival or Osheaga, they help with crowd control.