Transit thieves may believe that their failure to pay for transit is insignificant, but their actions are contributing to a projected loss of $700 million this year.
The MTA has expressed its willingness to spend between $500,000 to $1 million on a six-month contract.
The agency noted that traditional methods of combatting fare evasion have involved strict enforcement measures, including physical barriers, fare inspection, penalties, and warning messages emphasizing the potential consequences of not paying. However, despite their high cost and sometimes controversial nature, these methods have had limited success in curbing the rise in fare evasion among commuters.
The transit authority has conducted a thorough analysis of fare evaders and has categorized them based on their socioeconomic backgrounds and motivations. With this information, the authority is looking to hire an individual who can devise an innovative and unconventional solution to address the issue of fare evasion, which has been causing significant financial loss to the transit system.
The agency emphasized that achieving positive results in promoting civic behavior related to transportation requires going beyond mere enforcement.
According to the New York Times, mimes stationed at traffic intersections in Colombia were able to reduce the number of traffic fatalities by half. The program was so effective that it caught the attention of Bolivia, which implemented a similar initiative utilizing costumed zebras that dance to calm traffic at crosswalks.
According to Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD inspector and contributor at Fox News, the proposition appears to be more of a parody than a serious proposal.
Mauro, in a statement to Fox News Digital, expressed his disbelief at the MTA spending a million dollars on a study that confirms what many already know – people avoid paying fares because they can. He likened the situation to a comedic skit from “Saturday Night Live,” which unfortunately is not a laughing matter.
According to the latest police data, hate crimes in New York City have been on the rise, with a surge in incidents of antisemitism leading the way.
On March 11, 2024, random bag checks were conducted on passengers at a subway station by the NYPD and National Guard, as captured by Matthew McDermott for Fox News Digital.
Mauro expressed that the fare evasion crackdown in the subway was a fundamental aspect of the broken windows policing strategy and it proved to be effective. He added that if the authorities do not revert to this strategy, it would be challenging to combat subway crimes, regardless of the number of National Guard members deployed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
Earlier this spring, the city’s subway system received a boost in security measures to improve safety following a series of high-profile crimes, including a teen girl who was beaten after a dispute and a 64-year-old man who was kicked onto the subway tracks. As part of a five-point plan, hundreds of National Guard troops were called in to assist with bag checks. According to NYPD data, transit crimes saw a 13.1% increase in March compared to the same month in 2023.
“The fare beating in the subway was a basic piece of broken windows policing, and it worked.”
According to a spokesperson from the NYPD who spoke to Fox News Digital, there has been an 88.5% increase in arrests for fare evasion this year with 53,000 summons issued by officers. Additionally, the spokesperson mentioned that 16 firearms have been recovered from fare evaders who were arrested so far this year.
New Yorkers are expressing their frustration over the ongoing battle against crime in the city. This comes after Governor Hochul dispatched the National Guard to help combat the issue. Many residents feel that the situation has reached a critical point and that more needs to be done to address it. Despite the efforts of law enforcement officials, crime rates have continued to rise, leaving citizens feeling unsafe. The deployment of the National Guard is being seen as a last resort to bring the situation under control. However, some are questioning whether it will be enough to make a significant impact. The people of New York are calling for a swift and effective solution to this ongoing problem.
According to a spokesperson from the NYPD who spoke with Fox News Digital, fare evasion has a significant impact on both crime rates and public perception of safety within the subway system. Although not all fare evaders are criminals, it is a common practice among those who engage in criminal activity. Furthermore, it is unfair to those who pay for their fares to allow others to evade payment.
According to the department’s spokesperson, they are open to strategies that complement their current efforts and promote lawful entry into the system.
According to Kayla Shults, a spokesperson for the MTA, the agency is currently implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat fare evasion, as suggested by the blue-ribbon panel in 2023. This approach includes initiatives to emphasize the significance of paying one’s fare and to simplify the payment process for customers.
“Fare evasion is directly linked to crime and public perception of safety within the subway system.”
According to Dr. Katherine Kuhlman, a criminal and police psychologist, the MTA’s latest approach may appear “silly” initially, but in reality, other subway systems across the globe have undertaken comparable research and have obtained significant information.
In 2015, a study conducted in Melbourne, Australia, classified fare evaders into four distinct categories. The first category is the “Accidental Evader,” who may have inadvertently misread signs or made an honest mistake. The second category is the “It’s Not My Fault” evader, who avoids paying due to economic disadvantage. The third category is the “Calculated Risk Taker,” who takes advantage of any opportunity to evade fares. The final category is the “Career Evader,” who takes pride in never having paid a toll.
In a bid to curb fare evasion in the subway system, New York City is set to deploy 800 officers. This move is aimed at tackling the issue of people who avoid paying for their subway rides, which has cost the MTA millions of dollars in lost revenue. By increasing the number of officers, the city hopes to catch those who engage in fare evasion and hold them accountable for their actions. This is an important step in ensuring that the subway system is safe, efficient, and fair for all passengers.
On March 11, 2024, the New York City subway system was subjected to random bag searches by members of the NYPD and National Guard. Matthew McDermott, a photographer for Fox News Digital, captured the moment.
According to the study, Public Transport Victoria tackled the problem of “recidivists” by launching targeted marketing campaigns and increasing the number of plainclothes police officers conducting ticket checks. By doing so, they were able to significantly reduce their fare evasion rate from 12% to 5%. The use of plainclothes officers made it more difficult for fare evaders to spot them, contributing to the success of this initiative.
According to Kuhlman, a psychologist studying the behavior of fare evaders is not attempting to provide therapy or justification for their actions, but rather to identify a solution. This approach is consistent with the study of various types of criminal behavior, including serial killers, rapists, and shoplifters, where the focus is on uncovering the underlying causes. As Kuhlman notes, the analysis of fare evasion is no exception in this regard.
According to her, the MTA’s annual budget is projected to be $19.379 billion, and a $1 million cut is a small fraction of it. She mentioned that the research work requires a vast amount of data on a large transit system, and it would be impossible for a single person to handle such a task within six months. Hence, a team of researchers is necessary to accomplish the job efficiently.
“We have to win or else the system is gone.”
Examining the commuters of the world’s most extensive subway system would be a daunting challenge. To achieve accuracy, researchers must collect a sample size that aligns with the diverse socioeconomic, racial, cultural, and geographical makeup of the city’s boroughs.
According to Kuhlman, it will be quite a task to conduct a survey among the busy commuters.
According to the expert, people tend to be in a hurry when using transportation. Therefore, the researchers must provide clear and specific information about the data they require to ensure a prompt response from the people.
According to Kuhlman, the cost is minimal compared to the losses. “It may seem like a small investment, but it’s worth it when you consider the magnitude of the losses,” he explained. He also acknowledged that some may question the effectiveness of hiring a shrink and simply telling people to be happy. However, Kuhlman affirmed that there is much more to it than that.