TTC fines off track

Posted on 23. Oct, 2009 by Archivist in Editorial

The Toronto Transit Commission is overestimating its authority with the bylaw fine increases that came into effect last week.
According to TTC bylaw No. 1, people caught littering, resting their feet on bus or subway seats, lying down on TTC property or not giving their seat to an elderly or disabled customer can now be charged a minimum fine of $195, up from $95 prior to Oct. 19. That’s an almost 52 per cent increase for minor offences. Major offences, like smoking on TTC property or failing to pay a fare, now have a minimum fine of $395.
Jessica Martin, a TTC communications adviser, told the Et Cetera in an interview these fines will be levied by both Toronto police officers and TTC special constables. As a Toronto board, the TTC has the authority to hand out these fines. If anyone who receives a fine either cannot, or refuses to pay it, Martin said the issue will be decided in court.
Martin added the fines are merely a deterrent and are supposed to educate commuters on proper TTC customer conduct. The TTC, however, should be less concerned with using exorbitant fines to ‘educate’ its customers than with getting those same customers to their destination on time. The fines for big-ticket offences are understandable – like faking a transit pass or hopping a turnstile. Offenders would be using a service without paying for it. But potentially being fined nearly $200 for missing a garbage can while running to catch the subway is somewhat disproportionate – especially when the city’s fine for littering is a full $60 less.
As a commuter college, these fines will undoubtedly affect Humber. The majority of us ride the TTC daily. If it’s during peak hours, it will also be the highest probability of dealing with these newly deployed special constables and police officers. As Et Cetera guest columnist Scott Martin wrote in our Oct. 15 issue, he was recently approached and questioned unreasonably by a police officer while smoking outside of a subway station. The increased surveillance is already beginning to affect student commuters.
While the Et Cetera would prefer higher fines to fare hikes, the TTC still has a responsibility to maintaining reasonable treatment of its customers. Having a monopoly on public transportation does not give the board free reign to set their fines beyond those of the city it serves. At the end of the day, educating students is the college’s responsibility as the TTC budget is the government’s. The board is overstepping on both counts.