Riders beware: You better have a ticket before boarding LYNX
The Story
I noticed something the other week when I rode the Blue Line two days in a row: Transit cops, stopping folks to see their tickets. If they didn’t have one, the cops would check a little notebook and then either boot the offending passengers off the train at the next station or ticket them.
This was new to me. It’s always seemed like LYNX was the biggest free ride in town.
This is so cute. On Charlotte light rail you only show ur ticket if asked. #DNC
— Aaron Gould Sheinin (@asheinin) September 3, 2012
So, I decided to dig deeper with the city and emailed with Hillary Ryan, a city public information officer:
Q. Has CATS increased the number of transit officers patrolling LYNX?
CATS has always had a dedicated security team that patrols the LYNX Blue Line. In April 2014, CATS introduced bicycles to the patrol team so officers are able to cover a greater area in a shorter amount of time. Light rail security patrols the entire rail line, the Charlotte Transportation Center and all Park & Ride lots. CATS also has a great collaborative relationship with CMPD. We often work together to stop crime in its tracks.
Q. Have you increased resources or shifted resources?
Implementing the bike team was about maximizing efficiencies. We did not add additional officers we just better utilized the staff time we have dedicated to the line.
If you stay in Charlotte and like to take the light rail without buying a ticket, you may want to do that today. Police on every train.
— Tiffany Rascoe (@Tiffanyaesha) February 3, 2013
Q. What are the most common citations?
The failure to provide a LYNX light rail ticket is our most common citation.
If you are caught riding the light rail without a ticket, you will get a state citation (more than paying quick fine) http://t.co/rBVpxUoJh3
— Caroline Vandergriff (@c_vandergriff) June 3, 2014
Q. What happens if you don’t have a ticket? Do you immediately get fined? Do you get kicked off?
Passengers without proof of fare are removed from the train and issued a warning citation or state citation. Passengers without prior history of fare evasion are issued warnings. Repeat offenders are issue state citations, which require them to appear in court.
Q. I saw one of the officers open a notebook, which based on the conversation I overhead I assumed it had something to do with repeat offenders. What is that about?
The notebook you saw was probably a citation book.
Q. If you get fined, how do you pay?
If a state citation is issued, the defendant must go to court. Individuals are given the option to have their case heard by the court or simply pay the fine. If proof of payment is provided to the DA, the court case will be dismissed.
Q. Often, I get to the LYNX station and the train is about to arrive and I panic about getting a ticket. Is there a way to buy a pack or get them in advance?
Yes. you can buy tickets online at ridetransit.org
Passes are mailed or available for pickup at the CTC MT @charlottencgov: Purchase your LYNX Light Rail ticket online http://t.co/jjlzX67A
— Meghan Makoid (@mamakoid) September 20, 2012
Q. Is CATS considering any other means of checking tickets, such as turnstiles?
At this time CATS does not plan to install turnstiles or any other barrier method.
This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 12:45 AM with the headline "Riders beware: You better have a ticket before boarding LYNX."