Beginning this summer, a passenger on board a bus will be fined by inspectors, fines up to 180 shekels. Jerusalem light rail riders are accustomed to this, as many have learned the bitter lesson of being checked by an inspector and not having a valid payment on one’s Rav Kav smart card. The decision has now been made to permit bus inspectors around the country to do the same – issue summonses.
If the fare is up to 10.40 shekels, the fine will be 100 shekels. Fares from 10.5 – 18 shekels; a 120 shekel fine and fares over 18.10 shekels; a 180 shekel fine.
Bus companies explain that they have been fighting for this for years because inspectors were not given the authority to issue summonses so in essence, they were ineffective and did not serve as a deterrence to compel riders to pay.
It is pointed out that while light rail inspectors have the authority to detain a rider that refuses to identify himself, the bus inspectors will not.
Ministry of Transportation official Meir Chen is expected to announce the date for the start of the new program, which officials signal will be sometime this summer.
Egged spokesman Ron Ratner praises the ministry’s decision, telling the media the bus cooperate has been fighting for this over the past years. Dan spokesman Eitan Fichsman estimates 5% of bus passengers do not pay.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
‘a passenger on board a bus will be fined by inspectors,’
Guess it doesn’t pay to ride the bus if every passenger will be fined.
it’s easy enough to pay, there’s always enough change and if the Rav-Kav card is empty, you can top it up on the bus. There’s no excuse not to pay the fare.