Fare evasion: MTA plans to use European model' of agents asking bus riders if they paid after boarding, Lieber says | amNewYork

"The MTA says it is going European style in its effort to significantly shake up how it enforces fare evasion on city buses, the agency's Chair and CEO Janno Lieber revealed on Tuesday. Lieber announced that the agency is adopting a European-inspired model of enforcement that will involve fare agents, rather than cops, making sure all bus passengers have paid their fares after boarding."

"The agents, Lieber said, would go up to customers and say, Can you show me your phone or your OMNY card? I can validate that you paid.' The MTA boss said that the change is being made because the NYPD does not assign enough police officers to enforce fare payment on the buses. The NYPD already has officers assigned throughout the subway system."

MTA is adopting a European-inspired enforcement model that deploys fare agents, rather than police, to verify OMNY or card payments after passengers board buses. Agents will approach riders and validate payments by checking phones or OMNY cards. The shift responds to insufficient NYPD deployment for bus fare enforcement and aims to reduce fare evasion concentrated at rear doors where riders often board without paying. Fare evasion increased during COVID after all-door boarding and messaging to board from the back. The new approach is planned to begin once OMNY is fully implemented systemwide.

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