The act of using public transportation, such as a bus, train or subway system, without paying the required fare, most commonly through boarding without a valid ticket, using a fraudulent or altered ticket, or bypassing a fare gate. It is treated in most jurisdictions as a minor offense or civil infraction resolved through a fine, though a smaller number of jurisdictions classify repeated or aggravated fare evasion as a criminal misdemeanor, and transit authorities in a number of major cities have documented fare evasion as a significant and persistent source of lost revenue, prompting continued debate over the appropriate balance between enforcement and decriminalization.
Facts
Classification CodeIn Washington DC, fare evasion was reclassified from a criminal offense to a civil offense in December 2018 1 Typical PenaltyIn Washington DC, fare evasion now carries a $50 civil fine, versus up to 10 days in jail and a $300 fine when it was a criminal offense 1 Elements of OffenseRepeat violators and severe cases, such as ticket forgery, are punished more severely and sometimes with incarceration 1 Notable ExampleThe Council of the District of Columbia voted in December 2018 to decriminalize fare evasion, after data showed over 90 percent of citations and summons had been issued to African Americans 1 Jurisdiction VariationWhether fare evasion is treated as a crime at all depends on the jurisdiction 1 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Wikipedia: Broken Windows Theory
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
Sources
1. Fare evasion (Wikipedia)
Washington DC section, paragraph on decriminalization vote
In December 2018, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to decriminalize fare evasion.
Washington DC section, paragraph on fine amounts
Fare evasion in Washington, D.C., is now a civil offense with a $50 fine, rather than a criminal offense with up to 10 days in jail and a $300 fine.
Enforcement section, repeat violators paragraph
Repeat violators and severe cases, such as ticket forgery, are punished more severely and sometimes involve incarceration.
Washington DC section, paragraph on citation demographics
In December 2018, the Council of the District of Columbia voted to decriminalize fare evasion. Prior to decriminalization, over 90% of citations and summons for fare evasion were issued to African Americans.
Introductory lead section
Fare evasion and fare fraud may or may not be a crime, depending on jurisdiction.
View the SourceWikipedia: Broken Windows Theory
Associated With: Broken Windows Theory, Broken windows policing / Bratton era sectionQuote, Associated With: Broken Windows Theory, Broken windows policing / Bratton era section
Bratton directed beat officers to more strictly enforce laws against petty offenses like subway fare evasion, public drinking, public urination, and graffiti.
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