Transit ticket: do I have any recourse? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

MarchHare · 08-04-2009, 11:25 AM

This morning on my C-Train ride to work I was busted by a transit cop. I didn't have a valid fare, so he gave me a $150 fine. Yes, I'm guilty, and the peace officer was certainly within his rights to give me the ticket.

I'm a bit annoyed by it, though. First, I wasn't trying to cheat the system and ride for free. I'm an honest citizen and gladly support public transit. I had in my wallet monthly passes for every previous month of 2009, which I showed to the officer in the hopes he'd let me go with a warning (he didn't).

The only reason I don't have an August pass yet is because today is the first business day of the month, it was pouring with rain this morning, and it completely slipped my mind that I needed to buy a new pass as I was trying to stay dry while rushing to the platform. It was an honest mistake, and I'm sure there were hundreds of other C-Train riders who did the exact same thing this morning.

Has this happened to anyone else before? Is there anything I can do to have the fine reduced or waived? The ticket says I can dispute it in court, but I don't imagine it's worth my time to miss work and wait around in a court room for the better part of the day hoping that a judge might reduce my fine. In the scheme of things, $150 isn't that big a deal, but I'm still miffed by it.

ken0042 · 08-04-2009, 11:31 AM

I seem to recall hearing that they step up patrols for this very reason; to catch people who ride without having bought the new pass. That being said, I have forgotten to buy a pass before, and had my express bus driver let it slide, saying that if I have the pass tomorrow then I'm OK; otherwise I owe two fares. But it's different when you take the same bus and know the driver on a first name basis.

burn_this_city · 08-04-2009, 11:34 AM

What a dink I've been let go without a ticket under similar circumstances..

fredr123 · 08-04-2009, 11:37 AM

I always laugh the first business day after the start of the month. I never remember to get a new bus pass and have to either scramble for change in the morning or scrounge up a ticket. Because of this, I have a pack of transit tickets in my bag for those days I forget my pass.

Cash fares on the bus probably quintuple on the first business day of the month.

MJM · 08-04-2009, 11:38 AM

Your not going to win any battles there. The second day I moved to this city I took the train to a Flames game as I was told by many at work it was free downtown ( I figured the Saddledome was downtown), and the transit police were waiting at the Stampede Station handing out fines. I showed the guy my Nova Scotia license, and explained the situation. He just handed me the fine. Same thing when I fought it in court. They told me I should have been listening to the "You are leaving the free fare zone" message on the train.

FireFly · 08-04-2009, 11:39 AM

This is funny. I was thinking to myself "what a load of hooey his excuses are... Friday was the 31st; it didn't cross your mind then?" And it turns out that many people apparently do the same thing.

Inferno099 · 08-04-2009, 11:48 AM

My car was charged last year in the Brentwood LRT as the Transit officer needed to meet a quota IMHO for invalid parkers (University students) & therefore they get Calgary Parking to issue tickets.

However, I've worked downtown for over 10 years.
The City's system I've found to be an absolute joke - when I provided proof from my employer of 10 years & the U of C Registrar stating that I was not a student - Calgary Parking basically said too bad - we're going to waste taxpayers money & your time - you can go to court to prove your innocence.

Many months later - I went to court & the procecutor saw my evidence & had the charge withdrawn.

Although a long story - there are a number of city staff on transit that are ok & after seeing your many months of passes would've given you a warning - this person was just an absolute tool as the $150 fine was introduced from what I recall to be a deterint for those who won't pay the $83 / month or $2.50 ticket - not for the regular user who forgot over a darn long weekend. It's disappointing when peace officers do that as this person is showing they have a quota (whether publically acknowledged or not) rather than using common sense.

MarchHare · 08-04-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFly

This is funny. I was thinking to myself "what a load of hooey his excuses are... Friday was the 31st; it didn't cross your mind then?" And it turns out that many people apparently do the same thing.

I honestly didn't even consider the date at all -- the month changed over a holiday long weekend, and today (the 4th) happened to be the first business day of the month (and the first time I've used transit in August).

Again, I'm not trying to cheat Calgary Transit out of their fare. I support the system and buy a pass every month, but I completely forgot I needed to buy a new ticket this morning. It didn't even occur to me that I didn't have a valid fare until after I showed the transit cop my monthly pass and he told me it wasn't for the current month.

MelBridgeman · 08-04-2009, 11:51 AM

You are suppose to pay to use transit, you didn't? It's your fault! Pay the fine...

I "forgot" the speed limit was 90 once...

Russic · 08-04-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredr123

I always laugh the first business day after the start of the month. I never remember to get a new bus pass and have to either scramble for change in the morning or scrounge up a ticket. Because of this, I have a pack of transit tickets in my bag for those days I forget my pass.

Cash fares on the bus probably quintuple on the first business day of the month.

Reminds me of 4 hours ago.

blankall · 08-04-2009, 11:54 AM

I would try writting a polite letter to whoever is in charge of the fines. Do they give court dates?

You should emphasize in this letter that you ritually buy transit passes, and this fine affects your ability to continue supporting transit.

fundmark19 · 08-04-2009, 11:57 AM

I am pretty sure you just take your past passes down as well as your new pass you would have bought and they will just cancel the fine for you. I remember reading it somewhere as well as friends back in high school did it. I can't remember for the life of me where I read it recently maybe search beyond.ca forums could have been there

North East Goon · 08-04-2009, 12:01 PM

The exact same thing happened to me a couple of years ago, I just paid the fine, wasnt worth the trouble going to court for me. I did think about not buying another fare for the next few months to regain my costs however.

mykalberta · 08-04-2009, 12:08 PM

You definately get sympathy from me for that given your circumstances. I was in a similar situation on the Paris subway on a class trip. we get on, get off at our stop I chuck my ticket and before we exit cops are checking for tickets. A teacher knew enough French and had a a ice cream bucket full of used tickets that the guy let us go. From my understanding I would have been taken to jail for that, not just a fine given. It was scary for a 15yo.

BlackEleven · 08-04-2009, 12:21 PM

It's happened to me before too. Except the guy I got was nice. I showed him the pass for the month previous and he just said "remember to buy your pass tomorrow".

fundmark19 · 08-04-2009, 12:23 PM

Geez stop trying to screw over the french they will get you!!

Igottago · 08-04-2009, 01:09 PM

Same thing happened to me once when I lived in Calgary, but the transit cop let me off with a warning.

Its obviously a mistake that can and does happen. Sure, technically, you didn't have a valid fare. But, sometimes its ok to cut eachother a break here and there. Sounds like the transit cop was just a ###### and needs to remove whatever is stuck up his rear end.

corporatejay · 08-04-2009, 01:20 PM

This isn't necessarily advice on this issue, but I used to forget all the time as well, so now I have signed up on the calgary transit website. They email halfway through the month to let you know you can buy the next month's pass from their website and it usually shows up within 2 days of your order. Then I just put it in my wallet next to my july one so i don't forget.

Also, it allows you to keep neat and orderly receipts for your tax returns.

http://www.industrymailout.com/Indus...e.aspx?m=15025

alltherage · 08-04-2009, 01:23 PM

I got busted after the same thing. Forgot to buy the new one. The bus driver let me on and didn't even remember, so that was my defense... if he lets me on without letting me know, that's BS for CT security to ticket me.

I think they cut it in half.

Huntingwhale · 08-04-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fundmark19

I am pretty sure you just take your past passes down as well as your new pass you would have bought and they will just cancel the fine for you. I remember reading it somewhere as well as friends back in high school did it. I can't remember for the life of me where I read it recently maybe search beyond.ca forums could have been there

You would think this would work, but not all the time. I got caught in April and had my talk with the crown a couple weeks ago. I had passes from the previous months, and my current monthly pass. This was to show that I actually did have my passes, but it was misplaced in my wallet. The lady told me that if I read the small print on the back, that yes I may have had the pass on me and misplaced it, but it says "failure to produce proof of purchase upon request" is what I am actually being charged with. So it's not the fact that I got a ticket for not having a pass (which I thought I could revoke since I actually had it on me, just couldn't find it) but the fact I failed to produce proof of purchase is what landed me the ticket.

It was an incredibly ######ed conversation and totally unfair. I am 99% certain if I didn't look so young I could have gotten off it. I guess it depends which prosecutor you get, since this happened to me a year ago as well and the guy took pity on me and reduced my fine. The lady also told me she could see on my record I had a warning last time and that also bought into her decision to uphold the fine.