MBTA to Issue Warnings, Fines for Fare Evasion Starting September

Starting September 8, the MBTA will intensify enforcement against fare evasion by deploying Fare Engagement Representatives to issue formal written warnings and citations to riders who fail to pay fares on subways, buses, and trolleys. These representatives, identifiable by blue shirts and khaki pants, will ask for identification or contact information from fare evaders; first offenses receive warnings, while subsequent offenses incur fines starting at $50, increasing to $100 or more for repeat violations. The crackdown aims to address an estimated $30 million annual loss due to fare evasion, which has been exacerbated by the agency's adoption of a contactless payment system in 2024 that allows boarding through multiple doors. MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng emphasized that fare revenue is essential to maintaining and improving the transit system for all riders and stressed the fairness and responsibility involved in paying fares. Representatives will also assist riders with fare machines and trip planning, and the enforcement will be applied equitably across communities to avoid disproportionate impacts. Riders who refuse to cooperate or provide required information may be asked to leave the station or vehicle.