CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly 20,000 people travel on the light rail in Charlotte daily but some of them are breaking the law when they ride.
[Leaders consider new light rail stop in South End]
Many have jumped on board the train without paying their fare.
Channel 9 learned that riders who evade paying are growing as the light rail expands.
[ [Mayor, city leaders kick off Lynx light rail expansion project] ]
Charlotte resident Stephanie Bradshaw says she rides the light rail every day.
She has a monthly pass, which she bought after a tough lesson.
“One time, I didn't pay,” Bradshaw said. “They took me off at East West Boulevard Station. They gave me a citation and I had to pay $50."
Channel 9 found that in 2017, more than 5,300 people were stopped for not paying to ride. Last year, when the extension opened, the number shot up to nearly 8,400, which is a 60 percent increase.
Considering tickets cost anywhere from $2.20 to $6.60 a day, free riders could cost the Charlotte Area Transportation System tens of thousands of dollars annually.
“It’s very easy. I could just walk on the train, sit down and get off at another station,” Bradshaw said.
Channel 9 asked CATS what they are doing about the issue, and then tagged along with officers as they went row by row.
It took just seconds for officers to find their first fare evader, but an out-of-state rider didn’t understand how the system worked and was given a warning.
The next person was caught not long after.
In just three stops, officers issued five warning tickets.
B.J. Johnson, the head of transit security, said warnings are given to first-time offenders.
“The next time they're caught, they'll be issued a citation as well,” Johnson said.
The citation for being caught a second time is $50.
Johnson said 90 officers work the rails, and while they can't catch everyone, they try.
Riders told Channel 9 that they rarely have their tickets checked.
“I'd say it's relatively easy, but at the same time, you're taking a big risk,” rider Corey Dargan said.
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