News Jun 25, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Fare Evasion Checks: Not Funny

Matt Davis
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Comments

1
are you on verizon? i will totally send you pix all day. can you do a story on how cute my dog is?
on June 25, 2008 at 12:47 PM Report this
2
So...because you temporarily can't obtain a ticket via credit card, you should therefore be allowed to ride MAX for free?
on June 25, 2008 at 12:55 PM Report this
3
What is it with people who don't carry any cash these days? I think TriMet should accept credit/debit, but pass the costs along to those who use those cards.
on June 25, 2008 at 12:55 PM Report this
4
If Trimet says they accept plastic, then they should fucking accept plastic. When every machine at the station is broken, it's their fault. They haven't lived up to what they've promised. Sure, you could argue that portlanders should know better than to expect a working machine-- but what about out-of-towners? And talk about low expectations. Trimet practically requires you to poach a free ride and then treats you like a criminal. What a joke. It's increasingly clear that they don't care about you, the riders-- just bureaucracy, politics and bottom line. Portland can do better.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:13 PM Report this
5
Is that where the nine were standing? That platform is for westbound trains, not airport/eastbound trains. There is also an additional ticket machine or two on the eastbound platform. That aside, I fully agree that that the ticket machine situation is a mess. I've seen occasions where none of the machines at that station were functional at all, and other times where the cash-only machines WOULDN'T ACTUALLY ACCEPT CASH in the form of quarters.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:13 PM Report this
6
RFWFTF (post 4), sadly it is clear that we cant expect better from our government. this is another bi-product of living in the most conservative liberal city in America. we have facists that run our transport system. they raise the fair when and how they feel, and then cant provide basic services. how long till they go the way of Rose City Transport or whatever Tri-Met's predecesor was called?
on June 25, 2008 at 1:20 PM Report this
7
To quote the great John Bender - "the world is an imperfect place." From reading the post, it appears that only the credit/debit-enabled machines were not working - there was a cash machine that was working. Off the top of my head, I can think of three ATM machines all within a five minute walk of that MAX station. If you're too lazy to get cash in that situation, don't expect a lot of sympathy from me.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:29 PM Report this
8
Apparently nine security guards are cheaper than one repairman.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:47 PM Report this
9
Apparently nine security guards are cheaper than one repairman.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:48 PM Report this
10
Am I mistaken or does Tri-Met not own most of the land that their trains run on? It is so strange that a "private corporation" has publicly funded officials (police) to enforce Tri-Met fare policy (private corporate policies) and public officials (judges) to arbitrate penalties for violation of those policies. But then again I guess the transit system is not that bad in this city compared to the education system. But that's something 20 somethings like my self don't need to think about.
on June 25, 2008 at 1:52 PM Report this
11
so, matt, are you on verizon or what? can i keep sending you fotos of my dog?
on June 25, 2008 at 2:10 PM Report this
12
Yes, and yes. Your dog is super cute.
on June 25, 2008 at 3:12 PM Report this
13
I'm confused about the comment suggesting that Tri-Met is a private corporation. Snipped from their Web site: "TriMet is a municipal corporation of the State of Oregon. It is a public body. It has broad powers to provide mass transportation on behalf of the district. It can issue general obligation bonds (vote) and revenue bonds. TriMet also has an employer payroll tax." (Emphasis mine). I don't want to digress into the fare hikes of recent except to wonder why everyone is so surprised. It's not like Tri-Met is "sticking it to us," they're not a for-profit deal, and their motivations are likely not to bilk the public for the hell of it. But anyway, the topic at hand. I get pretty irate when the machines don't work. Call me a fascist or a yuppie or whatever, but I don't deal in cash. If I carry it, I tend to spend it willy-nilly, so my "savings plan" as it were is to perform as many necessary transactions with plastic. Tri-Met's ticket machines claim to take credit/debit cards, and so they should. And this goes beyond plastic issues--I have many times happened upon stations where both ticket machines are blinking piteously (meaning "help me, fix me") and won't even accept coins. I don't think Tri-Met is purposely trying to entrap riders. But I do think an improved focus on ticket machine maintenance would be nice. Maybe they could hire folks to serve both as sadly much-needed security guards AND as machine-fixers/restockers. I'm being sort of facetious, but anyway.
on June 25, 2008 at 3:13 PM Report this
14
I cannot begin to tell you how many times those exact machines have been broken (and I mean ALL of them on both sides). Fix the machines and install gates. Turn the fare checkers into drivers on additional routes since every bus and MAX is overcrowded these days. Sheesh.
on June 25, 2008 at 3:44 PM Report this
15
^ Not to mention cum filled.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:12 PM Report this
16
INAPPROPRIATE!!!!!
on June 25, 2008 at 4:15 PM Report this
17
Alan - The problem with installing gates is that stations then have to be attended full-time so that a staff person can catch gate-hoppers, allow disabled persons to pass gates, correct for fare cards which aren't being read, etc. Adding gates multiplies the problems of ticket machines, unless the station is attended. It would be a far better solution (if you're going to spend the money on gates and gate staff) to put simple "last chance" ticket machines on each train and to have an inspector on each train. (There are fewer trains in motion at any given time than there are stations in existence.) This way, all fares would be checked eventually, there would be visible staff on every train, and if you can point to a malfunctioning ticket machine right there on-board the train, it's pretty clear that you can ride for free. Personally I'm not advocating for inspectors on every train, but it would be cheaper than fully gating all the stations. What I'm advocating for is more staff presence on the trains, and for replacement/upgrading of the ticket machines and vastly increasing the number of ticket machines. We now have two models of parking meters in this town which have proven reasonably reliably taking debit/credit and coins (but not bills) which would make equally fine ticket machines selling a limited variety of one-ticket fares. These can take the load away from the existing machines which accept bills/coins/credit and can sell multiple tickets, etc. Finally, all the ticket machines on a particular platform should be networked and should report status to a central system. If a person without a ticket (due to malfunctioning machines at a station) is caught by a fare inspector, the inspector should be able to query this system and see if the machine was indeed offline or only operating on a subset of payment methods. Personally I've suggested to people (but after warning that I'm not a legal expert and don't know for sure this would work) to call the TriMet line and leave a voicemail on the extension for broken ticket machines (there is an extension for this) carefully noting the time, place, ticket machine ID, nature of the failure, and the payment methods they tried to use. Make a note for yourself too. This information could theoretically be used to appeal a fine, or might be sufficient to dissuade a fare inspector from writing a ticket in the first place. TriMet's official policy, as stated to me numerous times, is that riders at stops with broken ticket machines may board but must get off at the next stop and use the machines there, and wait for another train. I think this policy is, to put it politely, bunk. If TriMet wastes 5 opportunities to sell me a valid fare (such as five failed machines at two platforms and a closed ticket office in Pioneer Courthouse Square, as happened to me once), it is not my burden to be further delayed another 15 minutes just to _risk_ the chance that the machines at the next station _might_ be working.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:17 PM Report this
18
"I cannot begin to tell you how many times those exact machines have been broken (and I mean ALL of them on both sides). Fix the machines and install gates. Turn the fare checkers into drivers on additional routes since every bus and MAX is overcrowded these days. Sheesh." I cannot improve on this comment, BINGO!
on June 25, 2008 at 4:17 PM Report this
19
I don't buy all this hyperbole about "all of the machines are broken." I have never had that experience. It is an urban myth, pushed by people too cheap, too lazy or too broke to pay. Reporting such a thing on The Mercury's blog is bogus. You really should have somewhat higher standards.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:20 PM Report this
20
As a side note, all transit should be fareless. Are we going to take global warming seriously or are we going to build the Columbia River Sprawl Bridge and harass transit users? Ugh.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:28 PM Report this
21
did anyone notice that about the only words the Tri-Met copsters could utter were "duh!...duh!" and all else was just unintelligible? what a riot and a kick in the pants! does it get any better than this?
on June 25, 2008 at 4:31 PM Report this
22
MM- It really does sound like hyperbole doesn't it? But the reality is that it's not! I use tickets that I buy in advance and I can't tell you how many times I've tried to stick it in the validator and it can't even give me a little time stamp! Seriously, then I run off at the next stop if I think I have enough time to get back on the train but I'm not about missing my train because I have to walk to the other side of the tracks to get a stamp that will never be checked. No way.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:32 PM Report this
23
Machine Man - It's not hyperbole. I did a video project with Al on this a few months ago and found numerous stations with problems. See this video: http://portlandtransport.com/archives/2008/03/the_latenight_m.html On the night we did the video, we visited 15 station platforms. Of those 15 platforms, 7 had ticket machine problems. 3 of those would have rejected one form or another of payment (coins, bills, or cards) but would have worked for another form (if you were lucky enough to have the right form on you), and 4 of those were COMPLETEY FAILED -- no combination of payment methods or machines would have resulted in a fare. Now, in some cases, where platforms are close together, it may only mean crossing an intersection or two, or walking around the block, to find a working machine. But that can also mean missing your train, walking where you don't feel comfortable at night, crossing wide arterial streets, etc. Is that something we should be demanding of transit riders on a routine basis? Our household uses transit reasonably frequently, a couple of times a week. But we're not quite at the break-even point for buying a pass, so we prefer to buy individual fares. In these times of high gas prices, with new people trying out the system for occasional trips, they are going to be single-ticket buyers, too. If they have a bad experience with fare payment (or worse, get issued a fine), they aren't going to become new regular transit riders.
on June 25, 2008 at 4:38 PM Report this
24
Bob R. (#17) - I couldn't have said it better myself. I have never seen machines so consistently broken down on any transit system, ever. If the machine says it accepts cards, bills, and coins, it should do exactly that. Another solution could be to have card access to the turnstile, like in Washington or Chicago - honored citizen passes would open the large gate at the end. People can either buy a one-ride card at the station, put money on a fare card, or buy a monthly pass that lets them through. Machine Man is wrong. Not only are ticket machines frequently broken, but the validators are also broken - there's one on the eastbound Library station that's been out of commission for months.
on June 25, 2008 at 9:39 PM Report this
25
Actually, Bob, I think you proved Machine's point. Quite frankly, there's no way for any of us to know if you're being honest in your video or not, so who cares. And, even then, it still proves Machine's point. Machine is correct. It's become hipster habit to say that all the machines were broken at such and such station. And to make it a great story, they were broken at the next station, too! Sorry, but I am out and about on the system almost daily, and I have come across only two or three non-functioning machines in the past few years. Maybe I'm lucky, but I don't think I'm that lucky.
on June 25, 2008 at 9:50 PM Report this
26
This is silly. "Hipster habit"? Look, it's great that you always find a working machine when you ride the MAX, but what does this have to do with hipsters? You're aware that your personal experiences don't negate other people's experiences, right? I ride out to Hillsboro about once a week, and it's remarkable how many times neither machine at Orenco/231st is working. It happened as recently as the week before last. I called TriMet and left a message. Let me know if I need to keep a log for you, lest I be accused of harboring hipster habits.
on June 25, 2008 at 10:13 PM Report this
27
The fare checkers are just Wackenhut security, not police. I think we should have a blog on where and when they are spotted.
on June 25, 2008 at 10:31 PM Report this
28
First off- The above pictured people do NOT work for Wackenhut, they are all Tri-Met fare inspectors who are employed by Tri-met, not security guards or cops. Secondly, Wackenhut guards are NOT allowed to check fares, as it is a union issue, plus the Wackenhut guards are worthless tards. If a Wackenhut guard wants to check your fare, REFUSE and report the incident ASAP to Tri-Met.
on June 26, 2008 at 2:05 AM Report this
29
Also- Wackenhut Security on Tri-Met is scary. These people are rude, and totally worthless. There is a older blonde haired (short curly hair, looks like she was rode hard and put away wet) lady Wackenhut transit guard who is usually in the downtown area and is a bit(h! Wacth out for her!
on June 26, 2008 at 2:12 AM Report this
30
Also- Wackenhut Security on Tri-Met is scary. These people are rude, and totally worthless. There is a older blonde haired (short curly hair, looks like she was rode hard and put away wet) lady Wackenhut transit guard who is usually in the downtown area and is a bit(h! Watch out for her!
on June 26, 2008 at 2:12 AM Report this
31
JEEZ, where do these whacko nut jobs come from? DUDE! WHERE IS MY AMERICA??!! And since this is a truly free speech blog, let me put this bluntly: MACHINE MAN YOUR A FUCKING IDIOT! AND JAMES ZUDA YOUR FUCKING IDIOT TOO! THE FUCKING TICKET MACHINES DONT FUCKING WORK YOU FUCKING IDIOTS! Why would anybody bother making this up? WHY? CAUSE WE ARE COMMIE PINKOS INTENT ON DESTROYING AMERICA? JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!
on June 26, 2008 at 9:02 AM Report this
32
"I am out and about on the system almost daily, and I have come across only two or three non-functioning machines in the past few years." I take MAX maybe twice a month-- usually from downtown / old town back to NE on the yellow line-- and there is always at least one broken machine where I attempt to board. Last time was at the Chinatown station, where all machines (debit and cash!) were out of service at 11pm on a weekday. I had to dig around in my bag for change in order to buy an unnecessary all-zone pass. Lame!
on June 26, 2008 at 10:15 AM Report this
33
Actually, there have been numerous news reports over the last 6 months or so talking about the high number of malfunctioning machines from Lloyd Center to the last stop in Gresham (info confirmed by TriMet). TriMet has been saying for some time now they'll work on getting them fixed, but nothing has happened yet. I ran into the problem myself some weeks back at the Convention Center stop - the machine I tried to use wouldn't work (and I was using cash). I had to use a different machine, which thankfully worked.
on June 26, 2008 at 11:33 AM Report this
34
you people actually pay to ride the max? that is insane.
on June 27, 2008 at 4:20 AM Report this
35
I can see that I touched on the imaginary world of many people. Sorry, to bring reality to the table. Humans love to whine about imaginary stuff. I called your bluff. Try living in the real world. TriMet may need to do more to keep the machines up, but the constantly repeated stories about "all the machines" being broken are pure nonsense. Grow up, people.
on June 27, 2008 at 7:57 AM Report this
36
"Grow up, people." What an enlightened comment! ANOTHER FUCKING IDIOT! Go vote for George Bush you asshole.
on June 27, 2008 at 10:52 AM Report this
37
"TriMet may need to do more to keep the machines up" They sure do! "but the constantly repeated stories about "all the machines" being broken are pure nonsense." James - I did a quick search on this discussion and the ONLY person to use the phrase "all the machines" was YOU. Twice. Those of us who live in the real world tend to notice when things go wrong and need to be corrected. We are demanding that the situation be improved. It is only necessary for a few machines to be out-of-order in the wrong combination to ruin someone's transit trip, and this happens at a great enough frequency to represent a serious problem, especially given the current policy as to how citations are issued. You previously stated you didn't trust the video evidence or the testimony of others about specific incidents, but you've given us absolutely nothing to go on except your pronouncements about "hipsters" and self-congratulatory ramblings about "reality". First-class troll behavior, if you want my opinion. (I'm guessing you don't.)
on June 27, 2008 at 11:13 AM Report this
38
Interesting discussion. Not! Does TriMet have a problem with broken machines? Yes. Is it as pervasive as your typical Portlander pretends that it is? No. End of story.
on June 27, 2008 at 12:52 PM Report this
39
As a clerk at the now infamous "Peterson's", I made a short video on this phenomenon as well, though not as extensive as the video Bob R. did (thanks for the link Bob R., well done!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2PptV1uieM Scenarios vary, Machine won't take plastic=fail/>try paper=fail/try coin, don't have coin, need change, get from Peterson's(shameless plug), try coin=x % success/x %fail. I could list other TriMet atrocities that I witness when I'm at work, but my picture on top of the fare inspectors clipboards I do not want.
on June 27, 2008 at 1:25 PM Report this
40
Thanks, Poetic wax!
on June 27, 2008 at 1:29 PM Report this
41
There's more on this story over at Trimetiquette

http://www.trimetiquette.com/bully-trimet-ticket-inspectors/
Matt Davis on July 2, 2008 at 12:01 PM Report this
42
The machines are broken a lot of the time. I usually post an IOU on the broken machine before boarding the train. Its the responsible thing to do.
dumpy on August 21, 2008 at 9:21 PM Report this
43
Update..
I take the yellow line to work downtown about 4 times a week. I enter/exit the Prescott platform, and enter/exit the Old Town Chinatown platform about 16 times a week, round trip. I rode in the winter snow the last couple of weeks, even took a bus! out to SW during the "Artic Blast". I met pleasant drivers, officials, and security, who were all friendly, informative, and understanding of the delays. Two bus drivers refused my fare, and said it was common for drivers to do that during this weather.
I have a call log of complaints dating about 4 months back on the 503 238 7433? customer complaint line. I generally call to let them know the machines are down, or if the max is consistently full at a certain time of day. I have been informed by more than one Trimet driver that broken fare machines AND how to handle the tickets that ensue is a touchy grey area for the riders and drivers and fare inspectors. I myself have been told contradicting stories on what to do in these situations (Some say no big deal, others say you need to be prepared in advance). I HAVE been given a ticket for not having fare when the machine was down (about 1 and 1/2 years ago), and didn't look into it to find I could fight it. I was issued a warning in April? of 2008 for not having a ticket, after having the same problem! That is when I started paying attention, and looking at theTrimet Website for more info. I soon discovered what other readers have already reported, that the riders have to go out of THEIR way to ensure they won't be ticketed for something they wanted to comply with in the first place! I'm sorry, but I have every damn right to purchase my ticket at time of trip, and if it is not feasible for the customer to purchase their fare, then you cannot fault them for that.
NOTE: I am younger, I am female, and cannot rely on my daddy to buy me the world. I don't have a lot of money, and I work damn hard to make sure I don't have to ask my mother for help. I am not going to disrespect her by being a common thief and skipping on the fare. I often find myself the target of power trippers who assume I am a pushover. I'm not, I'm really a jerk. My first fault is impatience. My second is my temper.
On Saturday, January 3rd at about 3:12ish, I entered the platform and noticed the #072 machine wasn't accepting bills. I get tips from my coffee shop job, and I had just changed all my quarters to bills. Stupid me, considering how faulty the machines are and how often I have called in to let TRIMET know. There used to be two machines on the east side (the side of the dry-cleaners), but recently they removed one. I crossed to the other side, to find out that THAT machine was STILL down from a week before (I DIDN'T GET THIS MACHINE NUMBER at the time). Not really worried, I mentioned to a customer who walks me to my stop every Saturday, "It's not a big deal. I can call it in, and get a ticket at the Rose Quarter Stop and keep going."
I enter the max and call the customer #, only to be gently reminded that the phone line is only operational MON thru FRI, 9am thru 5pm, or I that I could drop an email at their website. I mentioned to a Wackenhut TRIMET Security who was riding the train when I entered, that the machines were down, and asked him if it "would it be a big deal if I just bought a ticket at my last stop, instead of exiting the train and buying a ticket and waiting another 15 mins for the next?" He was young, and unsure, and told me fareless square ended at rose quarter, and he couldn't ensure I wouldn't be bothered.
I exited the max yellow line at the rose quarter, north bound, and ran to the machine to purchase my ticket. What do you know? That machine wasn't accepting bills. I didn't get the machine number in my hurry to enter the train, so I could just get the hell home already! I was fed up at that point, frustrated, cold, and wondering why I was put at the mercy of whichever Fare Inspector I ran into. It was like playing a $115 poker game, with enough cover money, but all I wanted was more time... Normally I wouldn't have been so hasty, but it was a long week, and an even longer work day. I'm really a jerk. My first fault is impatience. My second is my temper.
I jumped on the train, almost getting caught in the doors that were closing, and walked to the back where I happened to see a Trimet Fare Inspector. I politely interrupted her at that point, and said "Excuse me, I wasn't able to purchase my fare at the last two stops I was at, and I have money..." I trailed off, because she interrupted me and asked for my identification. After that, she continued to check fares until the next stop. It was not a far max trip away, maybe a minute at the very most, but when you are WALKING on Interstate AVE next to diesel trucks and kids racing their tinny sports cars out of the Rose Quarter hopped up on Extreme Dew Sports Crap, it's not a pleasant jaunt. I've made the walk before when I was unsure of the fare dilemma. I was a bit hesitant to ask any questions as to her delaying me (at first she reminded me of an aunt), so I exited the train with her and two other max riders. We all exited the train at the Yellow line max stop, which is a single platform, and the max pulls up on either side. There are two machines there.
At this point in my story, I will stop. I may not stoop to being a common thief, but I KNOW my mother would be ashamed for what I said to the Fare Inspector who had once reminded me of an aunt. I will not go into details as to what happened from here, considering I have a court date to fight the $115 ticket I received, and I am in the process of filing a formal complaint against that specific Trimet Inspector. However, my intentions are to inform the masses of riders and readers that this is still an ongoing problem that really needs a solution, ON BOTH SIDES. My resolution this year is going to have to be "working on my temper, esp. when people provoke me to anger." It doesn't help MY situation to react how I did, however selfish and glass-half-empty it may seem. I'm really a jerk. My first fault is impatience. My second is my temper.


Second update...

I took my usual ride this morning (1/5) to check the machines from Prescott to Old Town/ CHinatown. Here are the results that I already reported to Trimet...

Prescott Station- single platform w/ two machines

1 machine working

(no machine #) accepting exact change, no coins accepted

Albina/Mississippi- single platform w/ two machines

1 machine working

#303 out of service

Rose Quarter- two platforms w/ 1 machine at each platform

#301 on west side not accepting bills

(no machine #) on east side not accepting bills

Old Town/China Town- two platforms w/ 1 machine at each

#072 on east side not accepting bills

#69 on west side out of service with a note stating "Temporarily out of service. Please do not use as an ashtray until further notice. Property Management"

That was this morning around 10 am. I called all the machines in, and was told they will look into it.
vons9000 on January 6, 2009 at 3:47 PM Report this

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