MBTA: Crackdown on Commuter Rail Fare Evaders

The MBTA and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company are using technology to identify counterfeit commuter rail tickets and passes.

Random checks begun this week use a small, flashlight-like device that scans tickets and immediately finds the counterfeits.  Acting MBTA GM William Mitchell says conductors have already found eight people trying to use counterfeit monthly passes or one-way tickets, including examples at left.

"We owe it to the vast majority of our customers who regularly pay their fares to expose the selfish behavior of those who feel they don't have to pay," says Mitchell.

Buy your commuter rail tickets and pay your way legally here.

Comments

[Richard Smoker]

Jay,

What can you expect from the MBTA and the State agencies? They have no accountability and nobody is adult enough to acknowledge when they mess up unless you call them out on it like you did here. It happens time and time again with these political appointee state hacks that collect their $100,000+ salaries for no-show/no-work jobs.

[Klark Jessen]

Dear Mr. McCormack:

Thank you for your comment and concern. I forwarded to the MBTA and understand you received a response Wednesday.

I understand the Chief of Customer Service for MBCR, contracted to provide commuter rail service for the MBTA, apologized for your bad experience and the initial delay in responding, that the situation has been addressed with that conductor, and that as a result of your experience, the proper training in using this new technology will be more clearly defined sparing someone else this same discomfort.

The best way to reach MBCR Customer Service with questions, comments, or concerns is at the following link:

http://www.commuterrailcs.net/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=2200

Klark Jessen
Executive Office of Transportation

[Jay McCormack]

Theres no mention of people that have been accused & have legal passes. This happened to me. Evidently, the vending machine commuter passes don't print whatever they're looking for & I was falsely accused & embarrased. No apology was offered & after calling the MBTA customer service and speaking to Natalie, who took my name & number, I've heard no reply in a week. I don't blame the MBTA for checking passes but they had better make darn sure the conductors are trained & know what they're looking for. So now I don't know whether to buy my passes from the vending machine or not? I also wonder how many other people this happened to.