The MBTA has begun issuing citations for fare noncompliance on the subway and in stations. It will begin by issuing warnings, then fines for repeat offenders.
The MBTA’s fare compliance team will traverse the transit system and may ask riders to produce their fare media or receipt of payment, according to the MBTA.
If a rider fails to produce their pass, Charlie Card/Ticket or credit card, the rider will be asked to show their ID. Riders’ information will then be scanned into an MBTA-issued device and searched through an internal database.
The MBTA says that riders who do not have an ID will be asked for their name and contact information. They also said that riders who refuse to produce a valid fare or ID may be asked to exit the vehicle or station where the inspection occurs.
First-time offenders will be issued a written citation and their identifying information recorded in the MBTA’s database, a written citation will be issued in person and mailed to the address provided.
A rider’s second and third offenses will result in $50 fines. Any additional offense will result in a $100 fine.
In a news release, the MBTA said, “Within the first several weeks, fare collection increased by up to 35% at stations where the new Fare Engagement Representatives were on-site.”
The MBTA has employed 16 Fare Engagement Representatives since October of 2024.
“Fare Engagement Representatives will be deployed equitably across the system based on ridership patterns, not geography, to avoid a disproportionate presence in any one community,” according to the statement.
The representatives, while issuing fines, will also be charged with fare education for riders. Riders will be offered information on the MBTA’s reduced fare programs available to all who qualify.
For some Suffolk students, many of whom rely on the MBTA for their daily commutes, the outlook on the new initiative is not so positive.
“I think that the MBTA issuing fines is a bit counterproductive. Issuing fines to people who are already struggling to pay is going to hurt more people than it may help,” said Kaitlyn Creighton, a junior at Suffolk.
Creighton frequents the Blue Line and said that she had not seen anyone from the fare engagement team during her trips on the T.
Philip Eng, the MBTA’s general manager, said in a statement, “To our riders who pay for each and every trip, thank you! For those who may need support with payment, please reach out to us about the reduced fare opportunities we offer across all modes.”
The MBTA said representatives will be found in subway stations across the system, and in the future, they may be found on buses along with Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys.
While in the midst of completing various other fare projects across the system, the agency is planning to install fare gates at South Station — very similar to those already in place at North Station.
The MBTA’s Automated Fare Collection 2.0 project is still underway. The first phase of AFC 2.0 was the Cubic credit card readers installed on all MBTA vehicles and in stations. The next phase will include new CharlieCards and an app. These new CharlieCards will work on all modes of transit, including ferries and the Commuter Rail.
These new CharlieCards are in testing now and are slated to launch sometime in 2026. In addition to new physical cards, riders will be able to add the cards to their mobile wallets like Apple Pay.
