Fare evasion crackdown

Public transport transit officers and rail police will be cracking down on fare evasion and nuisance behaviour in the coming weeks.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said anyone caught not paying the correct fare risked a $220 on the spot fine.

“Security staff, including police and transit officers, will be conducting a number of blitzes on the train network over the coming weeks,” Mr Emerson said.

“They will be targeting fare evasion and any nuisance behaviour.

“I won’t be revealing where or when but we won’t tolerate bad behaviour on public transport – particularly as we move toward full capacity in February and March.

“Passengers should also expect to see station staff spending more time on platforms assisting passengers with information, go cards and boarding trains.”

Over the past three years more than 50,000 fines have been issued for fare evasion across south east Queensland.

Despite the number of fines, fare evasion is estimated to cost honest public transport users $25 million a year in lost revenue.

The top 10 stations where fines have been issued are Roma St (1915), Park Rd (1677), Bowen Hills (1403), Northgate (1323), Fortitude Valley (1322), Petrie (1290), Altandi (1235), Beenleigh (1141), Strathpine (1022) and Central (952)

Media contact: Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637