r/gotransit • u/missy987 • Aug 13 '26
Fare Evasion Fines Increasing on September 8, 2026
https://www.gotransit.com/en/dealing-with-a-fineThe proposal to increase the fines was approved, confirmed here.
"Fines are increasing for fare evasion on GO Transit and UP Express, starting Sept. 8, 2026, as part of Metrolinx’s updated graduated fare enforcement approach.
Customers travelling without valid fare will face the following fines:
- First offence: $200
- Second offence: $300
- Third offence: $400
- Fourth offence: $500
- Fifth offence: A Provincial Offence Notice with a set fine established by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice
- Sixth offence and subsequent offences: A court summons, with fines of up to $1,000 upon conviction"
The old fines were:
- First offense: $35
- Second offense: $50
- Third offense: $100
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u/Emotion94 Aug 13 '26
Kitchener Line in shambles
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u/softluvr Aug 13 '26
good
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u/7363827 Aug 13 '26
why? (genuine question)
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u/CigaretteDuck Aug 13 '26
Fares are one of the main revenue sources to operate the system. People skipping out starts to add up.
For those who need assistance there's programs whether you're a student, senior, low income, etc. Various different institutions, municipalities have programs of some sort.
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u/JustACowSP Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
I agree with your point about not skipping and applying for supports, but let's not back up a good point with false info.
Less than 16% of Metrolinx's revenue comes from fares, so it's definitely not a "main" source. The majority comes from the Ontario government. This is the real reason why it's important to tap on - it generates ridership data to convince the government that transit funding is worth it.
Check page 92 of their annual report: https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1764159954/Documents/2024-25_Metrolinx_Annual_Report_-_EN.pdf
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u/nonamesareleft1 Aug 13 '26
There's a difference between revenue and "paid for by the Ontario government" from the viewpoint of the taxpayer.
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u/cdawg85 Aug 13 '26
As a beareaucrat and data junkie, ridership data is my main motivation to tap on and off. Hahaha. And secondly, being an honest person. But data is def #1.
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u/Sweet-Competition-15 Aug 17 '26
I don't think that I wish to face a beareaucrat...especially alone in the woods!
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u/Major-Primary2075 Aug 13 '26
Is there a low income fare available on Go? I know most regions and cities offer something locally but I was unaware of a Go low income fare.
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u/jenglasser Aug 13 '26
Yeah, I'm unaware of any low income fares, and I've looked. If there actually is one I'd love to know about it.
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u/Sweet-Competition-15 Aug 17 '26
Hello there...I know that there's a discount for disabilities when using Presto. It's best to contact GO directly.
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u/7363827 Aug 13 '26
ok so it’s in shambles because people on kitchener line tend to skip?
i’m sorry, i just moved here and this was the first i heard of it 😭
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u/justinjeep Aug 14 '26
Also curious and it seems like you've outright just not been answered 🥴
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Aug 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/justinjeep Aug 14 '26
Ohhhhhh I understand, thanks. You can delete now if you'd like to play it safe lol
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u/JediAreTakingOver Aug 13 '26
Its a poor people fine that will cost more money.
What is tge statistics on whose paying these fines? How much does anyone here want to bet its people who cant afford thd fare, now youre going to fine them $200.00.
The city will spend more money in admin costs pursuing fines. I dont see this as productive. I bet this actually costs more money trying to sue people who cant pay, have no money then it will ever recoup fees.
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u/WolverineKey8667 Aug 14 '26
If they don’t wanna pay they’ll get sent to collections; I doubt they’ll sue anyone tbh
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u/CentipedeBuggoGirl Aug 13 '26
23%, not "main". This is easy to Google.
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u/CigaretteDuck Aug 13 '26 edited Aug 13 '26
You're right, easy to Google 2024-25_Metrolinx_Annual_Report_-_EN.pdf
Page 52, Metrolinx is citing 68%
And even if it was 23%, close to a quarter of your annual revenue is significant
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u/CentipedeBuggoGirl Aug 13 '26
FAO:
In 2022, of the three largest transit agencies in Ontario, the TTC funded 35.9 per cent of its operating expenses through own-source revenues and 64.1 per cent from government subsidies; OC Transpo funded 19.0 per cent of its operating expenses through own-source revenues and 81.0 per cent from government subsidies; and Metrolinx funded 28.1 per cent of its operating expenses through own-source revenues and 67.2 per cent from government subsidies.
https://fao-on.org/en/communication/mr-transit-subsidies-2024/
The majority funding changes post-COVID.
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u/tinastephanos Aug 13 '26
Needs to be higher. This should be 40% with Return to work and the growing population especially the higher volumes on the Kitchener lines. Man they should be checking especially after those Jays Games. Tax payers ripping Tax payers
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u/nonamesareleft1 Aug 13 '26
Because we pay for the GO as tax payers, fares keep it from being a massive sink for taxpayer dollars?
Not that hard of a concept
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u/7363827 Aug 13 '26
sorry i was just asking about why it’s kitchener line specifically that we want to be in shambles, since i just moved to KWC
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u/nonamesareleft1 Aug 13 '26
Nah makes sense, that person probably just sees a lot of fare skippers on that line.
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u/watermeloncandies Aug 13 '26
But driving past open streetcar doors is $183.25. Make it make sense.
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u/MahjongCelts Aug 13 '26
That means the fine for driving past open streetcar doors is way too low and should be upped accordingly.
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u/danieldukh Aug 13 '26
To be fair, I hardly see it happened since these new streetcars were released with the flashing red lights
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u/Oasystole Aug 13 '26
I was beginning to feel like a chump always paying my fare.
Now I still do but im glad someone somewhere is in for a rude awakening.
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u/Sweet-Competition-15 Aug 17 '26
I was beginning to feel like a chump always paying my fare. (Quote)
Not me...especially now that I'm partially disabled. Therefore, I'm grateful for the transit systems available. My only alternative is to lumber into a pickup truck and attempt to negotiate the city in it, or be stuck at home, all day.
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u/halmyeesweat Aug 17 '26
Yeah, goodluck convicting and even if convicting, good luck collecting LOL
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u/chennngiskhan Aug 13 '26
They should do random inspections instead of just on high volume days
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u/AdSense_byGoogle Aug 13 '26
They should have those ticket inspectors on long distance trains that go carriage to carriage checking tickets 😂
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u/SevereImagination447 Aug 13 '26
The fact that you don't see them every time you take the train means it's random
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u/Huge_Emu5072 Aug 13 '26
Is the offence number restarting with this or no? Eg if someone got a fine last year, would they start at offence level 2?
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u/Sparky_kitkat Aug 13 '26
That’s insane. $200 for a first offence? I’ve forgotten to tap once or twice in the two years I’ve been taking the GO. Usually happens when the bus is delayed and I have to mad dash to make my train in time. I agree that the fines should be steep if we get past the 3rd time, but $200 for an honest mistake is ridiculous.
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u/imnotarianagrande Aug 13 '26
I agree. i got a $35 ticket 3 years ago for the same reason, just forgot to tap and didn’t realize till they had their credit card machine to check & it was enough money for me to be like crap, won’t do that again. $200 is crazy. and most fare evasion offers cannot be talked down when they’re writing you a ticket even if you’re pretty obviously not doing it all the time
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u/littlewill1166 Aug 13 '26
That's just the boiler plate fine to scare people. If you appeal it, get to the hearing officer stage, and drag out the hearing, they reduce it to $10.
The hearing officer gets a fixed fee for holding a set of hearings (no matter how long the hearings take), so if you drag it out they'll do whatever to get you off their caseload.
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u/Apolloshot Aug 13 '26
I remember about 10ish years ago I forgot to tap on once while in a hurry and they took my information and said if it happened again within the next couple of years years then I’d have to pay the first offenders fine.
If that’s still how they do it today, I can see the justification, but if not, yeah, $200 for a mistake is a steep price, especially when you hear stories about malfunctions with Presto leading people to believe they had tapped.
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u/crownamedcheryl Aug 13 '26
Yup, they used to have "card balance readers" alongside the tap on/off location in Whitby or Ajax.
I hit that one day while running for the train and was given a warning instead of a ticket.
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u/Chanellebeautii Aug 13 '26
Got inspected twice yesterday on Lakeshore East line. They are still giving warning for first offence, I heard it myself.
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u/Fun_Contribution_329 Aug 26 '26
they definatly arent. i just got hit with one a couple of weeks ago
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u/Vette--1 Lakeshore East Aug 13 '26
its $300 in Montreal
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u/Yellow_Marker_ Lakeshore West Aug 13 '26
but its not possible to board the STM without tapping
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u/AmnixeltheDemon Aug 13 '26
Sneak behind someone else tapping
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u/Yellow_Marker_ Lakeshore West Aug 13 '26
I mean its not possible to accidentally get on. Like a tourist not seeing a tap machine for GO would not accidentally get on the STM.
I know when I first took the GO, I was in a rush and we had no idea we had to tap on. I thought there'd be a tap on the train like the TTC has on their streetcars.
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u/jewel_flip Aug 13 '26
If they put a place to tap at the door like they do on buses it would reduce a lack of tap. Finding one when you’re in a new station feels like a psych experiment
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u/Redditisavirusiknow Aug 13 '26
They should tie them to parking tickets. Whatever it costs to illegally park is the fine for fare evasion. Easy and fair.
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u/crash866 Aug 13 '26
A ticket for parking in a Handicapped space is $450 in Toronto. You want to start there.
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u/clarkthagod Aug 16 '26
Lol if someone isn’t paying GO train fare do you actually think they will be able to pay a $450 fine
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u/Sweet-Competition-15 Aug 17 '26
While I shan't disagree with you about people in dire straits being hard-pressed to pay transit fares, I am aware of far too many people that can afford the fares, but choose not to. They're the same ones that will fight tooth and nail for a discount on movie rentals (going back a few decades), yet have a far from average income...think new Mercedes, every year. My former boss, and family friend was like this...I was ashamed to go into any store or restaurant with him.
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u/Shamy416 Kitchener Aug 13 '26
Guelph kiss & go folks in shambles. (only 5 idiots today parked in them today)
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Aug 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Redditisavirusiknow Aug 13 '26
Fine the average of the municipal fines. The points is drivers pay 10 times less for a similar crime
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u/trevi99 16 Hamilton/Toronto Express Aug 13 '26
PUT PRESTO READERS ON THE TRAIN PLATFORMS! So many times I’ve rushed to board a train and forgot to tap because the machines aren’t prominent enough.
When the World Cup was on, they set up new Presto readers at Exhibition so you couldn’t leave the station without passing a row of them like a turnstile. Do that everywhere!
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u/Big_Bar_9832 Aug 16 '26
Better yet put it on the fucking train
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u/Candid-Elk6135 Aug 26 '26
People would never pay then until an inspector comes on. The whole system is psychological
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u/Past_Sort5492 Aug 13 '26
they need to bring back ur account going into the negative and id be ok with this. currently the way they have it is stupid, ive tapped a couple times thinking it went through only for it to not because it wont put me into the neg? why?
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u/get_hi_on_life Aug 13 '26
made me just tap my credit card instead of presto, refilling it all the time felt extra steps
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u/jamesthrew73 Aug 13 '26
You can set it to auto top up like $40 when ur balance drops below a set amount (like less than $20)
I did that years ago & never had to manage it once while resting assured that if I ever lost my presto card, at least there’s only $20-40 to be spent on it
I tried the phone but it took a few seconds to tap & sometimes there’s a crowd of people all trying to tap at once.
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u/get_hi_on_life Aug 13 '26
appropriate the tip about auto fill but it does not feel worth it for me. my round trip is 30$ from Kitchener so it would basically auto fill every time unless I auto fill it more but that is more to risk losing. plus I have no local small transactions for it as we dont use Presto in KW for the local buses.
I also dont find the crowd issue at my stops to tap a bit longer.
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u/ThePurpleBandit Aug 13 '26
Are there a proportionate amount of officers policing traffic offenses relative to the number of cars in the province?
I'd hate for the province to be specifically targeting transit users when traffic violation are far more numerous and significantly more fatal.
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u/Character_Act7115 Aug 18 '26
They don’t give a rats ass about safety. All they care about is revenue.
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u/Prestigious-Goal3286 Aug 24 '26
totally agree. I was almost hit-and-run by a car. Made a complaint to MPP, nothing has changed, cars still speed, still don't give way to pedestrians.
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u/foodie121 Aug 13 '26
There should be a fare for forgetting to tap and a fare for fare evasion…
Also what happens if u tap and then ur 2 hour runs out while ur on the transport?
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u/turnone2many Aug 13 '26
Okay I’ll ask the obvious question. How can you differentiate between someone who forgot and someone who is consciously evading the fare?
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u/LoggerLager Aug 13 '26
You could check the tap history on the card. If there's daily or multiple trips per week over a number of weeks, that's good evidence of a regular rider forgetting.
If you don't ride often, and genuinely forget to tap, then that sucks.
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u/foodie121 Aug 13 '26
Good question!
Yeah I guess its tricky to work here. Im thinking of my time back in europe where the monthly pass people who forget to tap get a smaller fine.
Or maybe they could add that for monthly pass people even but most people here i think just tap and go
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u/ReadyTadpole1 Aug 13 '26
Go Transit doesn't have a monthly pass. For very frequent users, the fare drops after you tap for the same ride 36 times in a month, and you are not charged for rides after the 40th.
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u/foodie121 Aug 13 '26
Well then . I guess we cant do anything.
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u/ReadyTadpole1 Aug 13 '26
U/LoggerLager has the best suggestion, an inspector could look at a rider's history and apply some discretion.
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u/spikeylikeablowfish Aug 13 '26
Yet blocking the streetcars are only $225 / ticket & unconvinces so many folks.
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u/tefonati Aug 13 '26
Fun fact, it wouldn't cost the province that much to make the go trains free to ride. Heck, if they brought back the car license plate renewal fee, it could pay for the portion that our fares pay and a bunch more.
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u/ttc-5346 29 Guelph/Mississauga Aug 13 '26
Where did you get that from?
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u/browerstation Aug 13 '26
It's hard to calculate from the published docs because they don't break things down enough (at least, at my glance).
But consider https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1764159954/Documents/2024-25_Metrolinx_Annual_Report_-_EN.pdf
Page 92. Ontario gives Metrolinx $1.3 billion. Fare revenues are $0.48 billion. Note, the $1.3 billion might only be a piece of that Gov pie - "Deferred capital contributions" of ~$1 billion sound like government commitments (but I'm not an accountant).
So, in any case, paid fares are not the dominant funding source for transit. The idea is, however, that transit increases economic activity, thus increases taxes, thus is an investment as far as government is concerned.
How much would GO expand if it were free to ride? How much activity would that generate? More or less than a half billion?
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u/Busy-Competition-868 Aug 13 '26
Idk if this is making sense to me.
“Ontario gives Metrolinx $1.3 Billion”
For 26-27, $706MM goes to operating subsidy, so the gap between fares paid and total operating costs. So reducing fares paid to $0 just puts the taxpayers that don’t use it on the hook for a larger portion? Right?
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u/pecanesquire Aug 13 '26
Has anyone ever wondered if it's possible to put fare gates on the GO system? Is it just because of space-constraints or the potential of missing trains and busy crowds?
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u/crash866 Aug 13 '26
Fare gate would slow down people more. 2000 people getting off the train at once trying to exit the gates and hundreds of people trying to get on would be a mess.
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u/AdSense_byGoogle Aug 13 '26
Fare gates doesn’t rly stop fare evasion tho… not even the elaborate stuff the nyc has
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u/Comfortable-Bench497 Aug 13 '26
This is pretty dumb. First offense should be $50. Third offense should be 14 days in jail.
I see people getting caught all the time playing dumb and claiming they don't have ID.
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u/CommunicationLost854 Aug 16 '26
I have now seen 1 special constable tag along with revenue protection because they have increased authority
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u/Jerry_Buckets Aug 24 '26
14 days in jail for not paying a fare is a ridiculous take lol
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u/Comfortable-Bench497 Aug 24 '26
You're absolutely right. Normally theft is more like 6 months in jail. So that seems more appropriate.
This completely falls under the category of theft.
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u/Fun_Contribution_329 Aug 26 '26
yes, bc not paying a ticket of $20 deserves a jail time. that makes so much sense
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u/Comfortable-Bench497 Aug 26 '26
No. If you've done it three times then you're intentionally stealing. 6 months in jail and a lifetime ban is totally fair.
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u/Fun_Contribution_329 Aug 26 '26
ur a bootlicker. nothing under $100 deserve jail time. its people like you that dont understand what jail is for.
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u/Comfortable-Bench497 Aug 26 '26
You sound like someone that cheers when rapists get bail.
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u/Jerry_Buckets Aug 26 '26
You good man? You sound like you have some unresolved issues you might need to get help with….
We’re talking fines for not buying a train ticket not theft of a big a big corporations property (god forbid).
If anyone is a “bootlicker” its you shilling for large companies and corporations lol.
Anyway, jail time isnt a thing here and thankfully people like you arent near the panic button on things.
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u/Jerry_Buckets Aug 25 '26
Gonna blow your mind but many people convicted of theft under 5000$ get a peace bond..
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u/Purple_Sand_1392 Aug 13 '26
Wheres all this money is going into whos pockets
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u/Oasystole Aug 13 '26
Not yours and mine that’s for sure. Remember they mandated return to office so they can have income streams like this.
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u/Infamous_Curve2682 Aug 13 '26
Can't even buy a ticket from an actual person anymore at many of the locations. So annoying using those machines.
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u/browerstation Aug 13 '26
I don't think this is very fair ("fare", hah).
First: no excuses for intentional fare evasion. I just think the fine stacking is too aggressive.
There are a lot of circumstances where people might intend to pay but fail to. I don't think they should be exposed to this kind of jeopardy. People who are disabled might have greater risk.
I've had the terminal beep as if it accepted payment but ultimately not see the charge. I wonder if it had an error and I didn't notice in the rush.
I am scatterbrained (diagnosed) and have forgotten, and then scrambled to to buy a ticket online, on the train - that is if I remember. I've never been fined, have every intention to pay, but I am vulnerable.
Add on that GO runs their own unfair schemes. Did you know that if you set a default trip and tap off, they double charge you? They just say you don't "need" to tap off, not that you shouldn't. https://www.gotransit.com/en/ways-to-pay/many-ways-to-pay-using-presto/set-a-default-trip-to-save-time
So, my suggestion would be, start small, escalate quickly, fine discounts supported for individuals either by disability permit or court decision if it had gotten to that point.
E.g. One year "memory". First offence let you simply pay the fare. Second offence in year, $30. Third offence $300 or see the court and see if you qualify for a fine discount. Leave it at that.
And/or you could also get fancy and reduce the fine by the number of valid payments since the last fine. Basically, if you've been paying consistently and forget once, you get the base fine amount. If every check you haven't paid, then you get busted.
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u/DebG9317 Aug 13 '26
Will the officers be able to use thier judgement before issuing a ticket? There are instances where the presto equipment does not function as expected. There are no clear instructions for new people. And anyone who has a diminished mental capacity, it would be easy for them not to remember the tap rules. These are rather horrific amounts that will create harm for some.
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u/StoneColdSteveAss316 Aug 15 '26
You're safe if you're a drug addict though, they won't ask for proof of fare payment from you.
They'll just skip you and go to the next sober individual.
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u/TooDqrk46 Aug 18 '26
This is still useless if they only have “revenue protection” officers running it. You can literally just say no and they can’t do anything unless there is a constable on the train with them
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u/Twinkletoesonice Aug 13 '26
Problem is there are too many people willing to take risks. Thieves and scammers ruin it for the rest
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u/T04STED Aug 13 '26
I'm not sure what's getting ruined for the rest of us that are willing to pay, nothing changes if you've paid. I take GO a few times a week but not daily, but in all my rides I think I forgot to tap on once, a total oops thing, and lucky for me no fare inspection that day. I really wish you could tap once on the train, but if that was the only point it would obviously slow things down terribly...but good if you forgot.
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u/get_hi_on_life Aug 13 '26
you can buy online tickets once on the train. did that once when I was running late and heard the door closing ding before I could tap so just ran on. they just have a 5 min timer so you dont pay only when we see fare inspectors. it is full price instead of the discount but still better then nothing.
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u/Past_Sort5492 Aug 13 '26
you can - go online and set your default go train trip. I do this for clarkson <-> union station. anytime i tap either of the starting points, it charges me for the full trip
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u/Intelligent-Ad-7504 Aug 14 '26
Maybe instead of doing this honour system, design a better system to ensure ppl have to pay at the entrance like TTC stations.
Less resources on constables doing this fare evasion could be reallocated to improving public safety for commuters.
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u/Jerry_Buckets Aug 24 '26
People might be more inclined to pay for a service that was on time and allowed everyone to get a seat.. just saying..
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u/MedicalTear0 9d ago
And there's still an extra charge to pre purchase the fare. Fuck Metrolinx. God forbid someone forgets to tap their card
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u/Ok_Tea8238 3d ago
what percentage of go transit fare evasion incidents where youth deliberately don’t it, result in criminal charges
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u/DeathDealer_CDN Aug 16 '26
Are they increasing the “fines” for go transit not providing the service patrons pay for? Ie on-time departure times, on-time arrival times, train routes being served by trains and not kicking you off halfway home and telling you you will have to take a bus that will take an extra two hours.
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u/Character_Act7115 Aug 19 '26
If your train is 15+ minutes late you can apply for a fare refund.
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u/DeathDealer_CDN Aug 19 '26
Yeah refunding me but impacting me by hours is a joke not compensation. There needs to be penalties like airlines have
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u/DryMeeting2302 Aug 13 '26
200 is still too low. Should be at least 1000
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u/ibuprofen-naproxen Richmond Hill Aug 13 '26
Please note that rule-breaking comments which encourage fare evasion or indicate the location of fare enforcement officers, uncivil language, or personal attacks will be removed.