This practice is widely known as tax evasion, which could result in a fine of up to $425, according to the agency’s website.
TTC spokesman Stuart Green told CTV News that tax evasion in Toronto costs the agency tens of millions of dollars a year with the transit agency’s most recent auditor’s report saying at least $70 million in potential annual revenue was lost to fare evasion.
Across the transit network, he said evasion accounts for 3% of riders with a slightly higher incidence of 5% on streetcars.
But right now, ridership is only at 60 percent of pre-pandemic levels, although Green said a “significant increase” is expected in the coming months as people return to the office.
In the early days of the pandemic, fare inspectors were redeployed to hand out masks and safely direct riders to stations. Then last spring, an independent review revealed that Black and Indigenous people were overrepresented in interactions with TTC fare enforcement officers and special constables, prompting “reflective work” for the service.
“Prior to the pandemic, fare enforcement was done in a way that didn’t treat people fairly, based on their race or gender,” Green said.
“Over the past two years, we’ve been developing new fare control protocols for training, ticketing and precautions, ensuring the practice is fair for all customers while allowing us to collect important demographic information.”
With that process now ready to roll out, Green said the agency is ready to phase in full inspection and ticketing.
Initially, high employment areas and tram routes will be a focal point, such as the core of the city centre.
“People coming off work from a bank tower or the stock market or something like that and not stepping on to get home to Liberty Village,” Green said.
He added that the agency is also starting to track their ridership capacity against the number of people who have used their presto card to generate statistics on the amount of riders who have not paid their fare.
