Auckland Transport is spending tens of millions of dollars to improve public safety on its buses and trains – but also to stop people from riding for free.
While AT said it has seen an escalation in fare evasion in recent years, figures released to 1News under the Official Information Act show most of those fined for free rides also aren’t paying up.
Transport officer Clifford Morris told 1News some can be “really difficult to deal with”.
“They want to ride for free and will try and use shouting or verbal aggression.”
There are 60 transport officers like Morris. In the last eight years, Auckland Transport has spent more than $30 million on the team, both to maintain public safety, and to catch fare dodgers.
AT public transport and active modes director Stacey van der Putten said: “We’re looking at about $6 million of lost revenue a year here, and so imagine without transport officers what that may look like.”
However, some are questioning whether AT is getting bang for its buck. In the last financial year, transport officers issued $48,000 worth of infringements, but less than 30% have been paid, and it has only received around $13,500 back.
“That doesn’t seem like worth it,” one man said.
“It doesn’t matter how much money they spend, they haven’t come back with the solution,” another added.
When asked if she would like to see the rate of payment higher, van der Putten said she would.
“People giving accurate details is one thing, but also there is a process thereafter if the fares aren’t collected immediately. That then goes through a debt collection process in order to get that money back.”
While fare dodging is prevalent in Auckland, that’s not so much the case for other centres.
Environment Canterbury, which manages public transport in Christchurch, said it is not aware of it being a significant issue there.
In Wellington, there is a small team of transport officers who can issue fines like those in Auckland.
“But we haven’t issued any yet and we’re not having a huge issue with people not paying fares,” said Greater Wellington Transport Committee chairman Thomas Nash.
AT said bus drivers won’t demand payment if safety is a concern. However, new technology will allow them to record fare evasion more easily, pinpointing where it has happened.
“That then drives, in terms of supporting resource deployment with our transport officers, to concentrate on those areas,” said van der Putten.
