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Sometimes I read your replies and wonder if you are purposefully being dense, or glib.

Nobody is getting handcuffed and taken away over not paying the HBLR fare. Whenever someone is cuffed, it is always for one of two reasons: failure to provide ID (you are asked for a license, or some sort of ID that proves your identity, and you do not have one, or refuse to provide one) OR because there is an outstanding warrant out for your arrest.

Why do people have warrants out on them? Lots of reasons! Examples include failure to show up for jury duty (this is a common bench warrant!), failure to pay child support, failure to pay parking tickets and, yes, failure to pay prior tickets for fare evasion. Now, before you ask, why issue arrest warrants for failing to pay parking or fare evasion tickets? How else would the "system" be able to force you to pay?

This is all quite common for other situations: if you get pulled over while driving, the same logic applies. The LEO will run your ID through the computer and see your "history" and whether there are any warrants out for your arrest.

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They get handcuffed and taken to the nearest police station to confirm their identity if they don't or refuse to provide one. The ticket is then issued and they are sent on their way.

If the id provided is a bit dodgy, they'll also take you to a police station to confirm your identity.

yes, make him buy a ticket and pay a fine...but cuffing somebody over this. really!

They checked my ticket in north bergen last night and escorted a young man off to make him buy a ticket. Good work in my opinion. I always pay and validate.

The current way the Jersey Transit handles Fare Enforcement defies comment sense.

Their approach is one of negative reinforcement and creates a Russian Roulette mentality as to buying a ticket as well as utilizing resources efficiently.

Instead of having teams of 3 enforcement officers stand around at a station waiting to check tickets . I assume with benefits and training costs, these individuals cost 125-150k each per year.
The money could be better spent if there was a conductor riding on each train that collected tickets and provided an opportunity for someone to buy a ticket at a premium if they didn't have one.
Also, by having someone visible within the train with appropriate communication equipment (and maybe Google glasses), this could ensure a more safer environment.

i agree that everyone needs to pay, but there may be instances where people do not know how the system works such as people new to town or tourists.

why not just give a ticket? what is the point of arresting someone over a simple fare evasion?

Sometimes because of the varied nature of my work it saves me money not to purchase the monthly pass and just buy the regular tickets.


People need to pay for their rides. There is a reason they have cut services and wait times have increased. Late at night sometimes you have to wait 35 minutes for a train.

I plan on writing a letter to NJTransit and Jersey City Officials to see if anything can be done to increase fair inspection.

A week and a half ago. My co worker gave me a ride to Port Imperial light rail station. I usually take the 158 bus to the light rail station(light rail transfer ticket 3.05, which pays for the bus and light rail). I boarded the train and then realized that I didn't have my usual ticket cause i didn't take the bus. This was late around 11 at night. Had i gotten off at the next stop i would have waited 30 minutes for the next West Side train, then i usually transfer at Newport to the 8th street train.

I took a chance and rode all the way to Newport, praying that the non-existent fair inspectors wouldn't suddenly materialize from thin air. When I got to Newport where i had to transfer, i proceeded to purchase my ticket.

Stupid me forgot that usually letting the conductor know about an honest mistake and not having a ticket can help in case the fare inspectors show up and of course you have to obviously buy the ticket. I did this once and the conductor and the fare inspectors treated me very well and with understanding. Mind you this was years ago.

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I use the monthly pass mostly, but if I don't have a ticket I wait for the next train. I once jumped and forgot to stamp my ticket but jumped off the next stop so I can stamp it.

What do you guys do when the train is in the station and a quick sprint will get you on board but you don't have a ticket?

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EVERY person riding the light rail KNOWS that they must pay to ride it. There is a recording, that plays as trains approach the stations, and every time the doors close, reminding people that you must have a validated ticket to ride the train. People that choose to ride without a validated ticket do so at their own risk.

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I have heard the same in the past and have actually seen people get cuffed and hauled away. In fact, the guy that looked rather stricken this morning may have been an example of this. They were leading him away and he really looked like he was on the verge of tears.

I hope they step up (and keep up) with the fare enforcement. I'm sure fares would be lower if everyone was paying as they should and maybe, just maybe, we wouldn't have to endure all the fare raises.

too funny about white collar folk being ticketed. they should install turnstiles so people know that one has to pay the fare

LOL!!!! My most memorable moment on the LR was when this old lady from Bayonne who was dressed nicely was hauled off the train in handcuffs because she believe she did not do anything wrong.

When she refused to show ID they hauled her ass off quick in cuffs. One thing I did find out from JCPD when they attended our block association meeting that most people who get carried away to jail is not due to running a red light or drinking in public, or even smoking a joint but because of a warrant out for their arrest for not paying their fare on the rail.. When JCPD stops you for littering, smoking pot etc most times they issue a summons but if you have a warrant they take you to jail asap.

A bit surprised no one has mentioned it here as of yet. This morning, around 8:45 AM, there was fare enforcement at the Newport station. It was truly an LOL moment watching all these "white collar" workers getting busted for not having light rail tickets. One guy looked like a deer caught in headlights... damn near close to crying. Some other putz tried to play dumb by displaying a monthly pass, from June. The police and fare enforcement officers were being super strict and no-nonsense. In just one train (one that was sparsely occupied) there were at least 5 people that got busted. Pretty shameful, and sad. Pay the damn fare!

Also, what transpired today runs counter to the usual narrative/assumption that the only people not paying are the kids, the poor or the ghetto lowlifes. I really do wonder what percentage of people actually pay on a regular basis.