TransLink's crackdown on fare evasion recovers millions of dollars | Daily Hive

TransLink's crackdown on fare evasion recovers millions of dollars, finds many Concession pass cheats

TransLink fare gates at the Waterfront Station of SkyTrain's Canada Line. (Kenneth Chan)

TransLink’s crackdown on fare evasion is paying off — literally.

Nearly a year after the increased measures first began, Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority says the stepped-up enforcement efforts have led to a notable rise in fare compliance and new revenue.

Since launching an intensified fare enforcement campaign in August 2024, TransLink has seen a substantial shift in fare purchasing behaviour, with more customers opting for full-price Adult fares rather than discounted Concession passes for students and seniors.

The change has generated an additional $3.2 million in revenue over six months, or more than $500,000 per month, according to the public transit authority.

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Since the campaign officially began, TransLink has tracked an average of 50,000 more Adult Compass fare products sold per month, mirroring a drop of 50,000 in Concession fare sales — indicating a likely reduction in fare misuse.

“Our fare enforcement efforts are making a difference,” said TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn in a statement today.

“Most of our customers already pay their fair share, and we’re pleased to see even more doing so thanks to our education and enforcement initiatives. Fare revenues are essential to funding and improving the transit system for everyone.”

Shift seeing more customers paying more expensive Adult passes instead of the lower-cost Concession passes for youth and seniors, as a result of the increased fare enforcement. (TransLink)

According to a TransLink staff report on the fare enforcement campaign’s results ahead of this week’s TransLink board of directors meeting, since July 2024, Transit Security added eight new officers and created a dedicated fare enforcement team. Over the first six months of 2024, 776,000 passengers were inspected by Transit Security and Transit Police, with this figure increasing by 80 per cent to 1.4 million over the last six months. The number of inspections also tripled compared to the same period in 2023.

There also appears to be higher fare evasion on buses compared to SkyTrain and SeaBus. In particular, “tap non-compliance” is two to three times higher on the larger 60-ft-long, three-door articulated buses than on other types of buses, which are smaller and have fewer doors.

As a result, Transit Security is now conducting more inspections on all-door boarding bus routes, including the 99 B-Line, the various RapidBus routes, the No. 143 Burquitlam Station/SFU, and No. 145 Production Station/SFU, which have a higher level of fare evasion than other articulated bus routes.

Compared to previous years, there was also an exponential increase in the number of fare inspection notices and fine payments collected in 2024. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the number of notices and fines is already equivalent to or exceeds some of the entire annual totals of the past decade.

Increase in fare evasion notices and fine payments as a result of increased fare enforcement. (TransLink)

The fare enforcement push is part of TransLink’s broader $90-million annual cost-efficiency plan aimed at addressing the structural shortfall in operating funds, including recovering $5 million annually from deterring fare evasion.

In 2024, the public transit authority estimated it loses $40 million each year from fare evasion.

Transit Security officers have focused on both deterrence and education, reminding passengers of correct fare types and ensuring safety across the system.

TransLink has warned that with fare revenue playing a critical role in its funding model, further enforcement and education campaigns will remain a priority amid rising costs and service expansion goals.

Individuals caught without paying their fare or without proof of payment in a fare-paid zone are subject to a fine of $173, which increases over time if it is not paid. If an individual does not pay the fare infraction ticket, the ticket may be sent to a collection agency, the individual may not be able to obtain or renew their driver’s licence or vehicle insurance. On the 180th day after the ticket was issued, the fine will go up by $40. On the 366th day after the ticket was issued, the fine will go up by $60.

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