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:male-police-officer::skin-tone-2::tram:…
:male-police-officer::skin-tone-2::tram::female-police-officer:Authorised Officer Knowledge
By Adam Potaznik
Common Fines
Failing to produce valid ticket, evidence of concession, smoking (including e-cigs), open container, littering, feet on seat, spitting
- $248 Fine for adults
- $83 for children
Behaving in an obscene, offensive, threatening, disorderly or riotous manner or trespassing
- $330 Fine for adults
- $83 for children
- Interfering with gates or doors on a vehicle or premises without a reasonable excuse
- Travelling on part of vehicle not meant for travel
- $413 Fine for adults
- $83 for children
Fines can be disputed by completing Application for Review of Public Transport Fines located on this page @ DOT
Circumstances to dispute could include no working machine available to top-up, myki could not validate due to faulty equipment, forgetting concession entitlement ID or exceptional circumstances. Good behaviour in the last three years and supporting evidence is vital.
myki smart card ticketing system
myki is the ticketing system used to pay for travel on public transport across the metropolitan train, tram and bus network and in larger regional centres. The system uses smart-card technology for network access.
In March 2019, Mobile myki was launched for Android devices allowing people to purchase myki cards, top up and touch on and off using their mobile device.
Mobile Myki - NFC available with Google Pay
- User must be 16 years of age or older
- If an AO asks to check, passenger just has to wake up phone, no need to unlock
- If passenger has dead battery, they are travelling without a valid ticket
- has auto-reload low balance, so never have to risk running out of credit
myki top-up performed online takes 90 minutes to register.
Travellers must take all reasonble steps to cover their fare, for example, making a separate trip to top up their myki.
It is not a valid excuse as they have:
- hundreds of shops including all 7-elevens
- myki machines at selected station and stops
- auto top-up through online portal
It is not a valid excuse that their myki did no 'touch on' properly. Listen for the sound and look at the screen at the myki gate to make sure your touch on is successful.
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Resources
Investigation into public transport fare evasion
enforcement (May 2016) - Click Here (PDF)
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Contacts
Victorian Ombudsman | Level 1, North Tower 459 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 |Tel: 03 9613 6222 (press 4) or 1800 806 314 (regional callers only) | Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au | Website: ombudsman.vic.gov.au Shared jurisdiction with PTO regarding use of excessive force, unlawful restraint, injury caused by an AO, etc
Public Transport Ombudsman | PO Box 538 | Collins Street West | MELBOURNE VIC 8007 | Tel: 1800 466 865 | Online complaint: ptovic.com.au/make-a-complaint/complaint-form | Website: ptovic.com.auCannot assist with appeals against fines, but they do look at the conduct of AOs and other public transport staff, as well as problems with myki and transport infrastructure
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Concession Fares
Children
- Aged 4 and under can travel for free
- Aged 5 to 18 can hold a Child myki
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Teenagers aged 17 and 18 must carry goverment-issued proof of age ID [passport, learners permit, drivers licences, Key Pass, Proof of Age card] or another concession entitlement (PTV School Student ID [$9] or Health Care Card)
Full-time primary or secondary students living in Vicotria, as well as full-time VCE or VCAL students at TAFE, can apply for Victorian Student Passes, which provide unlimited travel within Victoria. Regional passes are available for specific zones. Students must carry the pass and ID when travelling.
Asylum Seekers can apply for a PTV Asylum Seeker ID and War Veterans or Widows can apply for a similar concession with documentation
Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients receive concsesion fares and free travel on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as limited free travel vouchers. They must carry a DSP coded Pensioner card and be aged under 60, be a Victorian resident.
Department of Health and Human Services issues cards called 'We Care' card for free weekend travel, as well as vouchers and free travel during Carers Week.
Centrelink-issues Health Care Cards are available and must be held along with concession myki. You can also store the card digitally using the Centrelink Express Plus mobile app.
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Pensioner Concession Card holders receive discounted travel, and can use the Centrelink Express Plus Digital Wallet app. They must carry their concession card and myki card.
For Victorians aged over 60 who have a DHHS issues Seniors card, they are eligible for a Seniors myki and concession fares plus free weekend travel and must always carry their Seniors Card and Seniors myki. Interstate Seniors Card holders can also use a concession myki.
Tertiary Students who are Australian citizens or have PR, and are enrolled in a course that is on the Register of Approved Courses can complete a student application form receive a PTV Student ID ($9)
Passengers must make sure that they are carrying the right proof that entitle them to a concession fare if they are travelling on a concession myki
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You can travel with an Access Travel Pass if you have a permanent physical disability, cognitive condition or mental illness that prevents you from using myki. The application has to be certified by a medical professional.
Authorised Officers are employed to perform statutory duties essential to safe delivery of public transport in Victoria
Public Transport Authorised Officers must adhere to a Code of Conduct
Fare enforcement is an important aspect of managing the costs of the public transport network in Victoria.
AOs are expected to perform their duties in a professional, conscientious and diligent manner. Ethically, honest and civil - show respect for the public and personal property, refrain from using offensive language and constantly assess passenger safety in the execution of their duties.
The Code of Conduct draws on legislation including
- Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983
Transport (Ticketing) Regulations 2006
- Infringements Act 2006
- Conduct on Public Transport Regulations 2015
- Transport (Compliance and Misc) Ticketing Regulations 2017
- Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014
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AOs much comply with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 when collecting personal details. They must then provide the brochure entitled "What happens when you are reported"
You have been spoken to by me…………, I am an authorised officer and I believe on reasonable grounds that you have committed an offence of ………... under the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983 or its regulations. I am required to obtain and confirm your name and address to enable a report to be submitted to the Department of Transport.
This information will be stored in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and it will not be disclosed to any other party except for the legal or related purpose for which it has been collected.
Duties
- Check Tickets
- Report ticket and behavioural offences
- Deter anti-social behavoiur
- Exercise discretion in rare circumstances - "A free excercise in judgement to choose a possible course of action or non-action in a situation not clearly requiring mandatory action by law, policy or directive."
- Provide customer service and passenger information
- Assist during special events and disruptions
- Provide evidence in court related to offences
- Can request a person supply their name and address
- The power of arrest (until Police arrive)
Training
Training consists of up to six weeks, (depending on employer), by a TAFE organisation on behalf of the company/department. Training includes conflict resolution, customer service and assisting special needs groups.
On Completion, AOs attain a Certificate III in Public Transport Customer Service and Compliance
Oversight
Two lines of accountability for their performance - Department of Transport (DoT) and Yarra Trams, which uses AOMS - Management System for monitoring
yarratrams.com.auNetwork Information
- World's largest operational tram network with 250km of double track
- Operated by Keolis Downer, an internationally-rcognised transport provider with a 135 year history, enabling three billion trips in 16 countries each year
- 200+ million trips annual with 5,000+ services per day
- 475+ trams with 90 low-floor E-Class trams by mid-2020
- 2,200+ employees
- 1,200+ drivers
- 9 depots and 1,700 stops
- Vehicle Passenger Information Systems on 74+ percent of fleet
- Continously upgrading many stops to level access stops for accessibility
- Ongoing rolling stock works program
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PTV promotes the values of:
- Passenger First
- Passion
- Delivery Excellence
- Collaboration
- Integrity
Fare compliance is up 0.9 percent in 2019, to 96.2 per cent. In May 2019, PTV recorded a record high in fare compliance.
Operational Procedures
AOs are identified by:
- :shield: State of Victoria AO badge
- :silhouette: Photo ID
- :iphone:Portable myki reader
AOs must introduce themselves as AOs, state their name and produce the identiy card and badge to any person they intend to report for an offence. Other requirement include showing badge and ID to any person who requests to see them, and/or supply their name in writing, as well as their supervisor's name and contact details, and their work address.
AOs don't issue warnings or fines, instead they will record details and complete a report of non-compliance (RONCs) for submission to the Department of Transport. It must be ledgible and logical, with correct address and the offence code must match the description of the offence.
This report is reviewed by the Transport Infringement Administration (TIA) team and the department issues either:
- A fine which can be reviewed by the passenger by writing a letter to the department or disputed in Magistrate's Court
- A warning
- A court summons for serious or multiple offences
AOs can detain individuals who refuse or fail to produce identification, until police arrive. AOs should only arrest a person as a last resort when they have no other lawful choices and must only use reasonable force. As soon as the reason for the arrest ceases to exist, the person must be informed that they are free to leave.
In 2014-15, 4,574 infringement matters were prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court. 2,621 were instigated by passengers electing to have the matter heard.
In this instance, a departmental prosection liason officer requests a sworn statement from teh AO who issues the RONC.
Statistics
- Fare evasion costs the state tens of millions of dollars
- There are over 600 AOs working across the network
- 600 million trips per year on public transport
- 1.7 per cent of the population are recidivist fare evaders, respondible for 68 per cent of fare evasion
- AOs checked more than 14 million tickets across the PTV network in 2014-15 financial year, lodging 205,109 RONCs and 214,605 Infringement Notices of which 181,581 were for ticketing offences, and resulted in 75,262 penalty fares
Scenarios
Passengers may fail to adher to purchasing and/or validating a ticket due to:
- Low levels of English
- Disability i.e. physically incapable
- Medical condition
- are very young
- are a visitor or tourist from outside Melbourne
- have diminished responsibility due to mental impairment
- passenger is homeless, or has little or no money
- myki wrongly coded as concession by PTV
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