Fare Evaders Beware!

This looks pretty funny and vivid, but it actually tells everyone a serious message. As seen on the picture, there is a seal in front of two Muni Fare Inspectors, behind them is a Muni bus. On the left, it is said "When it comes to fare evasion, we've seen every trick in the book". When it is translated to Chinese, the meaning is more sharp: "說到逃票的人, 他們的技倆已是眾所周知。" What is "眾所周知"? That means something that everyone has already known it. Like those fare evaders, they won't pay the bus fare this time, and they won't pay it all the times.

Fare evasion on Muni system is not a fresh issue, but it just like the oil spills on the Gulf Coast - not able to tackle the problem. There were several campaigns to educate riders to pay their fares in the past, at the same time, Muni Fare Inspectors stepped up inspections of rider's tickets, transfers or fast passes. Those people without valid proof-of-payment were fined at least $75. In spite of every effort, Muni never has a best and effective way to prevent those fare evaders.

Let me remind everyone about this, according to the San Francisco Transportation Code section 7.2.101 , the following acts constitute a fare evasion.

(a) For any passenger or other person in or about any public transit station (including an outdoor high-level boarding platform or station operated by the Bay Area Rapid Transit District), streetcar, cable car, motor coach, trolley coach or other public transit vehicle to evade any fare collection system or proof of payment program instituted by the Municipal Transportation Agency.

(b) For any person to board or ride a streetcar, motor coach, trolley coach without prior or concurrent payment of fare.

(c) For any person to board a streetcar, motor coach, trolley coach through the rear exit except: (i) when a representative of the transit system is present at such exit for the collection of fares or transfers or the inspection for proof of payment; (ii) when the streetcar, motor coach, trolley coach or other transit vehicle is operating at a station or boarding platform where fares are collected prior to boarding the transit vehicle; (iii) when necessary for access by persons with disabilities on wayside boarding platforms; or (iv) when the streetcar, motor coach, or trolley coach is operating on a transit line or in a Proof of Payment Zone.

(d) To fail to display a valid fare receipt or transit pass at the request of any authorized representative of the transit system or duly authorized peace officer while on a transit vehicle or in a Proof of Payment Zone.

(e) To misuse any transfer, pass, ticket, or token with the intent to evade the payment of any fare.

(f) To knowingly use or attempt to use any illegally printed, duplicated, or otherwise reproduced token, card, transfer or other item for entry onto any transit vehicle or into any transit station with the intent of evading payment of a fare.

(g) For any unauthorized person to use a discount ticket or fail to present, upon request from a system fare inspector, acceptable proof of eligibility to use a discount ticket. (127)

Anyone who is convicted could be fined up to $500.