State auditor talks about findings in recent Charlotte transit audit

CHARLOTTE — A good number of Charlotte transit riders aren’t paying their fare, and when they are caught, they aren’t paying their fine.

That’s a key finding from the state auditor, who says that in 2025, CATS issued 2018 tickets for fare evasion yet collected only $550 in revenue.

State auditor Dave Boliek talked to the Political Beat’s Joe Bruno about the findings.

“The fare collection is nearly non-existent in the big scheme of things, with more than 60% of riders, particularly on the light rail system, not paying a fare, and the collection efforts simply don’t seem to be there,” Bokiek said. “Hopefully, moving into the future with the new Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority, there will be a new emphasis on that. The reason that is important from the aspect of the state auditor’s office is that the taxpaying citizen who actually pays the fare is riding alongside with folks availing themselves of the same type of accommodation.”

Boliek found CATS is losing between 5 and 6.5 million dollars a year because of fare evasion. About 35 percent of bus riders and 60 percent of light rail riders aren’t paying.

It turns out when they are caught, they aren’t paying the fines either. 2,018 citations for fare evasion were issued in 2025, but CATS only collected $550 in fines.

“Many public safety experts also will say that charging and collecting a fare goes hand in glove with public safety as well, because if you have skin in the game, so to speak, you’re paying the fare,” Boliek said. “You’re more likely to number one to be more vigilant around your circumstances. You’re going to take care of the car in the case of the light rail and in the bus in the case of the bus system, and you’re going to have added respect for the service that you’re actually being provided by the city.”

The report also found there isn’t much interaction between CMPD and CATS. Only two officers are assigned to the metro transit unit. There was no connection between the real-time crime center and CATS security cameras at the time of Zarutska’s death.

And CMPD isn’t actively playing a role in the length of time someone is banned from CATS and making sure it is enforced.

“I think there are real questions about whether there is a sense of urgency on public safety as it relates to the public transit system in Charlotte,” Boliek said. “When you have two Charlotte Metropolitan police officers assigned specifically to the Charlotte area transit system. You continue with a contractual security arrangement that has a majority of unarmed security personnel working the light rail system and the bus system across Charlotte. It does raise serious questions about the seriousness with which the city is taking the public safety of riders on the system across Charlotte.”

Boliek is recommending that CATS install turnstiles or gates. CATS has previously said adding those now would be hard, especially in Uptown.

>> Watch Bruno’s full interview with Boliek in the video at the top of the page.

©2026 Cox Media Group