Fare Evasion Update for 2012

So far this year (as of today's date 09/10/2012) Transit Police officers have issued 3,390 fare evasion citations system wide. Last year MBTA Transit Police officers issued a total 3,412 fare evasion citations. Superintendent-in-Chief Joseph O'Connor stated, "with approximately 3 and half months remaining in the year clearly we will eclipse last year's total. Our officers as part of their daily duties will continue to enforce fare evasion violations throughout the MBTA".  Supt. O'Connor further added " this is just a small part of the professional police services our officers deliver to our MBTA community on a daily basis".

Transit Police/David Connolly

Of those 3,390 fare evaders this year not all receive their citation peacefully. On September 7th, 2012 at approximately 5:50pm Transit Police officers assigned to Area 4 were at Forest Hills MBTA station enforcing fare evasion violations. While there their attention was drawn to a male, later identified as David Connolly, 56 of Everett, MA. who entered the paid area of the station without paying his fare. Officers approached Connolly to issue him a citation for fare evasion, however Connolly was very uncooperative and used several expletives directed at the officers. Connolly made such a scene that other patrons present began to gather which caused congestion around the fare machines. Officers did their best to get Connolly to comply and furnish his identification to no avail. Ultimately Connolly's actions led to officers placing him into custody for Disorderly Conduct. However Connolly actively resisted the officers attempts creating a further distrubance. Eventually Connolly was brought under control and transported to Transit Police HQ. Connolly will be charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest and appear in West Roxbury District Court sometime today. Connolly was also issued a citation for fare evasion.

tpdnews.