Fare evasion has become a significant issue on Auckland’s bus network, with recent estimates suggesting that nearly 3% of journeys—approximately one million instances—went unpaid over the past six months. While transport officers caught 12,700 fare evaders, only 4.8% received fines, and 2.4% were issued warnings, highlighting concerns about enforcement effectiveness.
Key routes such as 33 (Papakura to Ōtāhuhu), 18 (New Lynn to the city), and 13 (Te Atatū Loop to Henderson) are the most affected, with fare evasion most common on Tuesdays and during Monday afternoon rush hours. Member of Parliament Parmjeet Parmar has called for stricter enforcement, linking weak penalties to increased risks for bus drivers and passengers. “Turning a blind eye to fare-dodging undermines safety and respect for public rules,” she said. Transport Director Stacey also noted that most offenders are teenagers or students, prompting the use of targeted patrols based on driver incident logs to address high-risk areas.
While Auckland Transport highlights ongoing efforts to combat fare evasion, critics argue more needs to be done to protect revenue, drivers, and passengers. The challenge lies in balancing strict enforcement to deter fare evasion with maintaining a positive and welcoming experience for public transport users.
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