Think again before you try taking a free ride on Muni because it's going to cost you more than a guilty conscience.
Fare evasion on the citywide transit system may set you back a hefty $126, especially as the San Francisco transit police begin cracking down on passengers at the SF State station.
Film major Saab Lofton, who was cited last week, says he will contest his fine.
"Hundreds of people walk through without paying, why should I?" Lofton said. "Besides, it's pretty mean to be handing out tickets to broke college students."
Plainclothes officers cited more than 35 people within three hours at the SF State platform two weeks ago, according to Captain Richard Hesselroth of the San Francisco Police Department.
"We're starting to put out more plainclothes officers, but we also depend on people's honesty and integrity," Hesselroth said.
Fare evasion is more common at the SF State station because it is one of only two stations in the entire system that relies mainly on passengers' honesty for collection.
This new system, known as the proof-of-payment system, has no inspectors or barriers to prevent passengers from boarding the platform without a ticket or pass, so there is a temptation for passengers to freeload. But the system, which is now in operation at the Stonestown Galleria and SF State platforms, instead depends on police officers who will patrol stations and trains to randomly check riders' tickets and issue citations to those who cannot show they have paid their fare.
Muni spokesperson Hannah Silverman says the proof-of-payment system will speed up boarding time since passengers can get in through all the train doors instead of filing past the driver to display their ticket or pass.
Advocates of the system say the same fare-collection method is used in other light-rail systems in the state and has proven to be very successful, including San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose.
However, riders who are cynical about the system's effectiveness say that it will lead to an increase in the number of freeloaders.
"I don't think it's working," freshman Le Huynh said. "People just run on the platform to catch the train and I'm sure not all have Fast Passes."
Silverman said the number of people who are not paying their fares are relatively small compared to the total number of riders.
She said a survey completed at the Stonestown Galleria station showed that 80 percent of riders use Fast Passes and only a minority of those who use tickets will skip paying the fare.
"Once word of the fine gets out, it will be a major deterrent," Silverman said.
Liberal studies major Erin Fuller, who regularly rides the M-Ocean View, agrees that the fine will deter the freeloaders. She admits that she has occasionally not paid her fare.
"Now that I know what the fine is, I'm not going to do it again. That would be pretty stupid," Fuller said. "I've done it before when I've been short on money. But usually I have a Fast Pass."
Tony Gordon did not have a ticket or pass on the platform last week, but wasn't too worried about getting caught.
"You can sort of tell the cops in plainclothes," Gordon said.