We can all relate to the occasional public transport mishap.

Maybe we accidentally forget to touch on or off, or maybe our phone battery dies, and we're unable to top up our myki card before boarding. Whatever it is, these little things happen from time to time and usually aren't a big issue.

But if you're not careful, one of these minor mistakes could end up costing you a lot more money than you'd expect - as one Melbourne commuter found out the hard way this week.

The woman took to Reddit after receiving a $277 fine in the mail for failing to produce a valid ticket on public transport. And what's even worse, the amount of her fine was actually higher than that of a low-level speeding offence for motorists!

The commuter was upset that a fine for not having a valid myki ticket is more expensive than a fine for a minor speeding offence. Credit: Getty. (Stock photo)​

'What the f***,' the passenger wrote in a post on the popular forum site Reddit. 'I got a myki fine ($277) in the mail the same week my mate got a speeding fine ($230). I'm shocked.'

'Failure to produce a valid ticket shouldn't be fined more than potentially putting someone's life in danger.'

The commuter went on to say that such steep fines are equal to 'a whole week's worth of pay' for her and that she already struggles enough as it is to afford public transport fares.

Even though she acknowledged that she ought to have had a valid ticket, she couldn't really afford one due to her current financial situation. 'I'd pay for a ticket if they were cheaper,' she said.

'I'm eligible for a concession and still struggle to afford that. I'm disabled and can only work part-time. If they were even half the price, it would be soooo much more accessible.'

Then, she asked: 'If the government is funding this service, why is the private company making a profit off of it, you know?'

Melbourne’s train network costs up to $9.20 a day. Credit: NCA NewsWire/Paul Jeffers.​

For concession ticket holders, daily zone 1 and 2 fares are currently $4.60 – which is still quite pricey when you consider how often people use public transport these days just to get around town.

It's no wonder so many people are turning towards alternatives like Uber instead nowadays (but that’s not cheap either)… We absolutely feel this commuter's pain here!

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you use public transport regularly as well? If so, do you think these fines are valid, or way too unreasonable for the average Aussie commuter? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Gazman]

We can all relate to the occasional public transport mishap.

Maybe we accidentally forget to touch on or off, or maybe our phone battery dies, and we're unable to top up our myki card before boarding. Whatever it is, these little things happen from time to time and usually aren't a big issue.

But if you're not careful, one of these minor mistakes could end up costing you a lot more money than you'd expect - as one Melbourne commuter found out the hard way this week.

The woman took to Reddit after receiving a $277 fine in the mail for failing to produce a valid ticket on public transport. And what's even worse, the amount of her fine was actually higher than that of a low-level speeding offence for motorists!

The commuter was upset that a fine for not having a valid myki ticket is more expensive than a fine for a minor speeding offence. Credit: Getty. (Stock photo)​

'What the f***,' the passenger wrote in a post on the popular forum site Reddit. 'I got a myki fine ($277) in the mail the same week my mate got a speeding fine ($230). I'm shocked.'

'Failure to produce a valid ticket shouldn't be fined more than potentially putting someone's life in danger.'

The commuter went on to say that such steep fines are equal to 'a whole week's worth of pay' for her and that she already struggles enough as it is to afford public transport fares.

Even though she acknowledged that she ought to have had a valid ticket, she couldn't really afford one due to her current financial situation. 'I'd pay for a ticket if they were cheaper,' she said.

'I'm eligible for a concession and still struggle to afford that. I'm disabled and can only work part-time. If they were even half the price, it would be soooo much more accessible.'

Then, she asked: 'If the government is funding this service, why is the private company making a profit off of it, you know?'

Melbourne’s train network costs up to $9.20 a day. Credit: NCA NewsWire/Paul Jeffers.​

For concession ticket holders, daily zone 1 and 2 fares are currently $4.60 – which is still quite pricey when you consider how often people use public transport these days just to get around town.

It's no wonder so many people are turning towards alternatives like Uber instead nowadays (but that’s not cheap either)… We absolutely feel this commuter's pain here!

What are your thoughts, folks? Do you use public transport regularly as well? If so, do you think these fines are valid, or way too unreasonable for the average Aussie commuter? Let us know in the comments!

As it turns out if she'd paid, she would've saved money. No sympathy for her. Perhaps if she'd contacted them first, they may have helped.

 

[HamMcG]

In these days of rampant inflation and disregard for the basic responsibilities of being a citizen in a community, it's refreshing to read a good news story.

 

[Citizen]

I agree she should be fined as by her own statement she evades paying her way but the amount of the fine highlights the disparity in the penalty. If the fine for her is 100% of her weekly income it should be the same for everyone. The amount of the fine if based on percentage could be determined by an offenders taxable income. This would make the system of fining equal and fair instead of a flat rate.

 

[mylittletibbies]

I'm s

Many pensioners would like a day out, just to go to the end of the line on a train or bus. I take my elderly neighbour out for a drive and a drive through Maccas icecream. You'd think she had won lotto. She just loves to get out but because of property prices her house which she built in 1958 is now right in the middle of a very wealthy area, so she survives on very little,even with council deduction of 2% for rates, she rarely has money for anything.

I'm so grateful I live in WA, pensioners can travel free on any public transport between 9 and 3 on weekdays and all weekend. Our council rates are discounted by 50%, what a joke 2% they must be kidding.

 

[Evol P]

My husband and I rarely use Public Transport, but 2 weeks ago travelling from Warrandyte to CBD Bus Route we were amazed that the majority of people getting on did not log on or off and this was late morning/early afternoon. I can only imagine how bad this is early morning/ early evening. Fines are valid if you cheat the system.

Same!! I frequently travelled by bus in Frankston 3 years ago and on one trip, another passenger and I were the only ones from 15 who actually tapped on. I mentioned it to the driver (after everyone got off) and he said he's paid to drive and its not worth a "fight or abuse" to say anything.

 

[Evol P]

Good!
A bit more of this would MAYBE make people actually PAY for tickets instead of getting a FREE ride.
I was horrified by the amount of people not tapping on or off when I lived in Victoria.
Someone previously said 90% didn't pay and they were not too far off. One trip I did of 15 passengers, one other person and I were the only ones who paid. How are services expected to be kept running if the machine recorded only 2 people used that route at that time? There will be no buses soon and whose fault will it be?? It won't be (according to) those freeloaders that's for sure!

 

[MotherGoose]

I agree she should be fined as by her own statement she evades paying her way but the amount of the fine highlights the disparity in the penalty. If the fine for her is 100% of her weekly income it should be the same for everyone. The amount of the fine if based on percentage could be determined by an offenders taxable income. This would make the system of fining equal and fair instead of a flat rate.

Unfortunately, this method of payment is not fair and equitable either. The rich have all sorts of tax dodges which reduce their taxable income quite drastically, resulting in a taxable income which is often not much more than that of the average Joe Blow. The people who would be hit hardest are those average wage earners who don't happen to have lots of tax dodges or deductions.

 

[Linwar]

I'm s

I'm so grateful I live in WA, pensioners can travel free on any public transport between 9 and 3 on weekdays and all weekend. Our council rates are discounted by 50%, what a joke 2% they must be kidding.

Her tiny 3 bed ,one bath house is valued by the land $900,000, she doesn't want to move, so its the Sunshine Coast Council QLD that is giving her the princely sum of 2% discount