Victorians face one of the world’s highest fines for fare evasion when caught without a myki, a penalty that social welfare groups argue disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable, often penalising genuine mistakes, reports The Age.
As of 1 July, fines for not having a valid ticket or proof of concession entitlement increased by $8, reaching $296. In contrast, the fare evasion penalty is $100 in Western Australia, $95 in London, $125 in Paris, and just $55 in Singapore, it said, adding, failing to pay your fine on time can cause the cost to surge to over $500 in just a few months.
An analysis by The Sunday Age of major transit systems globally identified only one jurisdiction with higher fines for fare evasion: Queensland at $322. In comparison, NSW’s fare evasion fines are $200 and can be reduced to $100 for Centrelink recipients, whereas Victoria only reduces fines for people under 18 to $99.
Legal and welfare advocates are urging Victoria to overhaul its fine system, recognisng the disproportionate impact these large penalties have on low-income individuals and those experiencing poverty.
The Department of Transport and Planning issues around 90,000 fare evasion fines each year. Late fees can cause a $296 penalty to increase to $469 after seven weeks and to $533 after ten weeks, The Age said.
The transport department estimates that about 3 percent of passengers across Victoria’s train, tram, and bus networks do not touch on, resulting in nearly $20 million in lost revenue in 2022. In the 2023 financial year, the department issued 87,513 myki fines—a figure similar to the years just before the COVID-19 pandemic and down from 93,426 in 2017.
Quoting a spokesperson for the Allan government, The Age stated that public transport fines are designed to target repeat offenders. Anyone fined can request a review, which considers exceptional personal circumstances and their history of paying for travel.
Check this link for review of your transport and road fines.
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Victorians face high fines for fare evasion, with penalties reaching $296, disproportionately affecting the poor. Advocates urge system overhaul to reduce impact on low-income individuals. 🚌💸⚖️😟📉 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/6LgNF38gXD
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