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I just got a fine from the MTA

Started by William Hernandez26 · · 👁 5 views · 84 replies

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Participants William Hernandez26Arthur BarnesAnthony BaileyHannah Davis18slyviper47Kimberly WilliamsEric Wells3wearyangler4Dana Allen3Karen Garcia5driftingnomad68William Doyle2Linda Booth28velvetpilot212urbanseal6Ashley Reed49Michelle Chase3Brian Stewart4Brian Edwards6
William Hernandez26 William Hernandez26 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Jul 2003
#1 ·
So, what am I supposed to do now?

I was out in NYC yesterday and ended up getting screwed. We bought one-way tickets, simple enough. But then, by some stroke of bad luck, we ran into the sleaziest transit officer imaginable on the way back. He slapped us with fines despite our heartfelt explanation—we’re just students from Cleveland who got turned around in the chaos of New York City, and some kind souls had just pointed us toward this MTA train so we wouldn't miss our bus. But no, the guy was a total jerk... you know how it goes.

$53 Two fines apiece. So, what's the move? How do I get out of this? What do I even say? Do I actually have to go to court?🙂 What are the consequences? Anyone dealt with this? Should I hire a lawyer?😁

Quickly, please—I only have 7 days left before the citation process kicks in.😳
Arthur Barnes Arthur Barnes Active Member
131 messages
joined Mar 2009
#2 ·
The guy's a total gentleman, let him pick up both 😁 😁 😁
Anthony Bailey Anthony Bailey Regular
271 messages
joined May 2003
#3 ·
People in NYC keep saying you should just refuse to show your ID if they start picking fights with you.
And if they hand you a ticket? Just don't pay it.
😳 😲

Next time, bring some heavy-duty muscle along—some local tough guy, maybe even hire someone like Willard to act as your bodyguard.
👋 😁

But...
Regardless of what that New Yorker suggests,
if I were in that situation, I'd just pay the fine.
😳 😢
William Hernandez26 William Hernandez26 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Jul 2003
#4 ·
unknown said:People in Chicago say you should refuse to show your ID just to start an argument...
and if they give you a ticket, just don't pay it.
😳 😲

I have to wonder, do they actually pursue these legal proceedings, and what’s the absolute worst-case scenario? Some lady told us we could just head down to the MTA office and claim we were caught off guard before we could even grab our passes, and they'd let us off easy. Does anyone actually believe that works?
Hannah Davis18 Hannah Davis18 Active Member
170 messages
joined Sep 2008
#5 ·
If you're registered in NYC, you're almost definitely gonna get a summons from the municipal court.

Maybe head down to an MTA station and check out the terminal; they actually have a lawyer on staff who handles this kind of stuff, so just go talk to him.
Just make up something, I guess. I know a few people who went through this and didn't end up paying a dime. Like, play the "broke student" card—tell them you've had your ID all year (you can show them your student ID) but somehow lost it right now, or whatever.
Anthony Bailey Anthony Bailey Regular
271 messages
joined May 2003
#6 ·
unknown said:So I’m wondering, are they actually going to push these citations through? What’s the absolute worst-case scenario here? Some lady told us that if we just head down to the MTA station and claim some guy startled us before we could swipe our cards, the transit staff would just let it slide. Does that actually work?

Look, even if there's a shred of truth to it,
they aren't going to buy that for a second. It's such a cliché excuse.
😳

From what I hear, the paperwork and legal headache of chasing people down for unpaid fares costs them way more than the fare itself..
They're drowning in these cases because nobody ever pays.
😳
slyviper47 slyviper47 Active Member
97 messages
joined May 2009
#7 ·
Why on earth would anyone think they don't need to pay the MTA for their fare? 😕
Anthony Bailey Anthony Bailey Regular
271 messages
joined May 2003
#8 ·
Simone said:Since when does she think she doesn't owe the MTA for a fare? 😕

I always pay my way.
Just so nobody gets the wrong idea.
😳

But honestly, a few times now, the validator just hasn't worked...
or the train is so packed you can't physically reach the machine.
😠

And then I'm the one who ends up getting busted..
😳
slyviper47 slyviper47 Active Member
97 messages
joined May 2009
#9 ·
unknown said:I always pay my fare.
Just don't want anyone getting the wrong idea!
😳

Sometimes the card reader just glitches out
or the train is so packed you can't even reach it!
😠

And then someone catches me...
😳

1. Isn't it because every service deserves to be paid for?😁
2 & 3. Because there are receipts, and those transit officers know all our tricks better than we do!
William Hernandez26 William Hernandez26 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Jul 2003
#10 ·
Hannah Davis18 said:If you're registered in NYC, you'll almost certainly get a summons from the municipal court.

I'm not. I'm out in Indianapolis.

So, what then? 👋
William Hernandez26 William Hernandez26 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Jul 2003
#11 ·
Simone said:Why on earth would she think she doesn't need a fare for the MTA? 😕

We paid for one way... $4.25. 😢 We're broke 😢
slyviper47 slyviper47 Active Member
97 messages
joined May 2009
#12 ·
unknown said:we paid one way... $4.25. 😢 we're broke😢

Can you believe it? I used to be totally broke too—like, seriously struggling. Back then, I’d just walk everywhere or skip trips entirely if I couldn't afford them. Honestly, even if I had the cash, I wouldn't have gone because then I wouldn't have had anything left for food!😢
slyviper47 slyviper47 Active Member
97 messages
joined May 2009
#13 ·
unknown said:nah, I was out in the Indianapolis area.

So, what happened next? 👋

1. Did you guys have to drive all the way to Chicago?

2. Then, out of nowhere, you get a summons from the municipal court in Indianapolis. 😁
William Hernandez26 William Hernandez26 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Jul 2003
#14 ·
I bet you have some kind of thing going on with those MTA commuters😛

<btw, we organized a school field trip 😉>

Let's slowly circle back to the introduction and the initial issue..
Kimberly Williams Kimberly Williams Member
20 messages
joined Aug 2004
#15 ·
A friend of mine got busted in NYC, so she handed over her ID with her old address in ST. Turns out she’d moved, and since the tickets were being sent to the wrong place, she never even saw them.
Then a warrant was issued for her arrest! 😲 😁
When she went to update her ID, a cop in blue intercepted her and took her straight to the station. She spent two whole days losing her mind trying to get that warrant cleared! 😁
Now she just owes the fine.

Another friend of mine—total wildcard—refused to pay. Her tickets kept going to that ST address too, so she just kept forgetting about them 😬, and now she’s facing three days in jail!!!

God, why do I hang out with such criminals? 😁

I know a single fare is pretty pricey, but if you're studying in NYC, $13 monthly passes actually make sense. If not, you can grab a day pass; it costs a bit more than a single trip, but you can ride all day long 😁

Anyway, my advice is to just pay it ASAP. Don't assume they'll just forget about you like my friends did 😁; you'll just end up with unnecessary headaches! 🙂
Eric Wells3 Eric Wells3 Active Member
61 messages
joined Dec 2005
#16 ·
unknown said:I found myself venturing into NYC yesterday for an excursion, and I decided to take the subway. We were quite reasonable about it, really—we purchased one-way tickets for our journey. Yet, in a stroke of pure, unadulterated misfortune, we were intercepted on our return trip by the most repulsive, slimy transit official I have ever had the displeasure of encountering. This individual had the audacity to slap us with fines, completely disregarding the rather poignant tale we shared regarding our situation. You see, we are merely students from Indianapolis who had become hopelessly turned around in this massive, sprawling metropolis, and several kind souls had gone out of their way at the very last moment to direct us toward this specific train so that we wouldn't miss our connecting bus. But no, this sleazy character simply didn't care. He was just a truly vile individual... you all know exactly the type I’m talking about.

You are completely out of your mind, truly.😁😁 Here is the legal perspective on this matter:

When one considers the legal ramifications of this entire situation, specifically regarding the authority of the air traffic controller, one finds oneself navigating a labyrinth of complex regulations that most people simply fail to grasp. It is quite frankly exhausting to witness how often the fundamental principles of oversight are disregarded by those who believe they are above the rules established by the FAA. One must maintain a certain level of decorum when discussing such matters, yet I find the current lack of accountability to be utterly infuriating. There is a precise line between operational discretion and blatant negligence, and it seems we are drifting further away from that line with every passing day. It simply does not exist.To be perfectly blunt, he is absolutely nothing—a total nonentity, a complete void, a zero, zilch, nada, absolutely nothing at all.
Just an ordinary citizen possessing exactly the same level of authority as you do.
He possesses absolutely no legal authority to conduct a search of your person, nor are you under any obligation whatsoever to present him with identification. In principle, he has no right to demand that you accompany him downstairs—though, I suppose, one might choose to comply simply to avoid causing a scene on the MTA.

In any functioning, civilized nation where order actually matters, you would see an undercover officer standing right there next to the air traffic controller. It’s basic oversight.
It is a profound relief that we have not devolved into a truly dysfunctional nation.😁😁😁

If a transit officer actually grabs you by the arm and physically prevents you from leaving, you are looking at a massive legal nightmare. I am telling you right now, that isn't just a minor disagreement over a fare; that is a serious escalation of force. If an official on the MTA decides to lay hands on you to stop you from walking away, they have crossed a line that leads straight to a lawsuit. You aren't just dealing with a ticket anymore; you are dealing with an unlawful detention. It is absolutely outrageous how some of these people think they can exert that kind of physical dominance over citizens just because of a transit dispute. If that happens, you don't just stand there—you make sure everyone knows exactly what kind of overreach is occurring. Everything is absolutely correct. It is quite literally guaranteed by the Constitution that you could beat him senseless like a rented mule, assuming, of course, that you aren't currently feeling particularly sluggish or out of shape.😁 You ought to go out and gather witnesses from your circle to support your case before initiating a lawsuit against him. It is quite simple, really: by engaging in such behavior, he is directly infringing upon your fundamental right to freedom of movement.
The so-called concept of a "citizen's arrest"—that scenario where you hear a silent alarm trigger at a Chase branch, see some guy sprinting out with a bag of cash, and suddenly feel entitled to tackle him until the police arrive—is fundamentally flawed in its application. Such an action only carries legitimate weight when dealing with the most egregious felonies, such as homicide, armed robbery, or sexual assault. When applied to something as trivial as a transit fare inspector, it ceases to be a matter of public safety and becomes nothing more than an unjustified infringement on an individual's liberty.

Should you find yourself in a situation where an inspector pulls you aside next time and demands to see your identification, I suggest you pose a singular, pointed question: "Are you a sworn police officer?" If his response is anything other than a definitive yes, then you simply offer him a polite "goodbye" and walk away. It is quite that simple, really, provided one maintains their composure.👋And you should absolutely take your own side on this matter. Honestly, if someone makes the claim that they are an officer, you ought to demand that they produce their badge immediately.

P.S. If you and your friend actually possess a shred of backbone, your best course of action would be to deny everything once you stand before the judge; simply assert, with absolute certainty, that you have never laid eyes on the individual in your entire lives.
One should strictly adhere to the principle that verbal sparring is only permissible if one is addressing a police officer; otherwise, there is absolutely no reason to engage in such trivialities.😉
Hannah Davis18 Hannah Davis18 Active Member
170 messages
joined Sep 2008
#17 ·
unknown said:nah, I'm in the Indianapolis area.

so, what then? 👋

nothing, really. you just get a summons from the court and don't show up because nobody's home to sign for it.

The notices come a few times and then the whole thing just goes stale.

Either you don't let the cops come hunting you down over some MTA fines, or you just tell the court you can't make it and ask them to reschedule the hearing.
I mean, half the people in a city like Chicago probably have MTA tickets sitting around. You wouldn't believe how many people actually bother showing up to court.
wearyangler4 wearyangler4 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Oct 2004
#18 ·
unknown said:good grief, what am I supposed to do?

... honestly, what are our options here? How do we dodge this? What's the right thing to say? Do I really have to show up at the municipal court in Indianapolis?🙂 What kind of fallout am I looking at? Has anyone dealt with this before? Should I be looking for a lawyer?😁

I need an answer fast, because I've only got 7 days left before the misdemeanor proceedings actually kick off.😳

Well, if you ask me, the move is to just slip out of the country under the radar—maybe head somewhere East—change your whole identity, and obviously secure some fake IDs for at least two different personas.😁
Oh, and you should probably start growing out a mustache immediately.
Dana Allen3 Dana Allen3 Member
10 messages
joined Jun 2004
#19 ·
Eric Wells3 said:unknown, you’re out of your mind😁😁 Here is how things look from a legal standpoint:

Regarding your rights, the transit inspector DOES NOT EXIST, they are a nobody, a non-entity, absolutely nothing.
Just an average citizen who happens to have the exact same authority as you do.
They have no right to search you, nor are you obligated to show them any ID. Generally speaking, they don't even have the right to demand that you follow them downstairs (though, honestly, it’s probably better to just comply so you don't cause a massive scene on the MTA.

In any functional country, the person checking tickets would be an off-duty police officer.
It’s a good thing we aren't exactly a functional country.😁😁😁

If an inspector grabs your arm and refuses to let you walk away, you have EVERY RIGHT guaranteed by the Constitution to take them down like a sack of potatoes. Or, if you aren't feeling particularly athletic, 😁you can ask the people around you to act as witnesses and file a lawsuit against him. By doing that, he is essentially restricting your freedom of movement.
The concept of a "citizen's arrest"—you know, like when you hear a bank alarm, see someone sprinting out with cash, and you have the right to hold them until the cops arrive—only applies to the most serious felonies (murder, armed robbery, sexual assault...) so in the case of a transit inspector, it is purely an illegal restriction of liberty.

If an inspector pulls you aside next time and demands your ID, just ask, "Are you a police officer?" If they say no, simply tell them "goodbye👋" and go about your business. Naturally, if they claim to be a cop, then you demand to see their badge.

P. S. If you and your friend actually have the guts, you can just deny everything in court and claim you never even saw the guy in your life.
It’s just your word against theirs, which only matters if the guy is actually a cop.😉

... lol... I think I'll go mess with the inspectors instead. 😬
Anthony Bailey Anthony Bailey Regular
271 messages
joined May 2003
#20 ·
Simone said:1. Isn't it just because you have to pay for every single service provided?😁

I agree.
Or as they say in France—
c'est la vie
😁 😁

Simone said:2 and 3. That’s why there are inspections, and those transit officers know every trick in the book better than we do.

Ever actually tried showing your pass?
It's like trying to show my passport in the old Soviet Union—they demand a million useless documents, and the lines are long enough to make buying bread during hyperinflation in Russia look easy. Plus, the "staff" is about as "welcoming" as if I were the one paying them.
😠

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