Question about Newark Light Rail fine

Submitted by helpmewrite99 t3_zk3mve in Newark

I got a ticket on the Newark light rail cause it was my first time riding it and I had no signal to pull up my ticket. The officer was also really mean while it wouldn't load so I just said I'll take the ticket. In anycase a week after my pet died and then after that my aunt so I completely missed the window to pay the ticket online which is my fault.

I was wondering if I could still mail in the fine or do I have to attend the court date? If I do attend the court date are there extra costs associated with it?

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Comments

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Newarkguy1836 t1_izzf6on wrote

Unlike regular NJ Transit trains with conductors punching tickets, Light Rail operates on an honor System of ticket validation. The purpose of validating a ticket is to prevent you from using the same ticket both ways or handing it over to a friend to use. By not having a ticket validated or stamped, there's no way to prove you didn't just get that ticket from someone else or you're trying to double dip. Now if the cop sees your receipt and there's no reasonable way you could have double dipped within that time window and he still gives you a ticket, he's a douchebag. But it's a million times cheaper to just pay the ticket than to fight it. It's not like you got a DUI or something requiring a lawyer. It sucks, but you got to be careful and follow directions.

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lookingtocolor t1_izzmdyg wrote

Think they used the app then probably got on or off at penn with no signal. If you get on around some of the underground locations definitely possible to lose connection before the digital validation finishes. I've had it happen once or twice when not wanting to miss the train.

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ryanov t1_j00si4c wrote

It doesn’t become validated for a couple of minutes after you tell it to validate, so there’s no reason not to do it way upstairs.

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thebruns t1_j02lrpt wrote

You are supposed to activate it upstairs where the giant sign is, not on the platform level

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lookingtocolor t1_j03g03c wrote

Sure but if you forgot and your train is there I'd risk the ticket for the couple of underground stops. Especially when it's late and time between trains is longer.

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Rich_Bullfrog_3005 t1_izyvp7k wrote

You got unlucky I ride it everyday during peak times and they've only checked once in 2 years. I thought it was only a $100 fine no court required.

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ryanov t1_j00saeu wrote

Pay the fine, you’ll be fine.

For future reference, you’re supposed to activate them above ground. They don’t start working for a few minutes after activation, for this very reason.

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Kalebxtentacion t1_izy062q wrote

That’s weird, I don’t bother paying because the officers are never at any of the stations or trains. But what I usually do is buy some tickets just in case. The app takes 2 mins for the tickets to come on and it’s a waste of time and money to use it only once.

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TrafficSNAFU t1_izy6gjn wrote

They'll surprise you. I've seen them at Broad St station, Newark Penn, Grove Street and riding the train inspecting tickets at least once. I have monthly rail pass between Newark Broad St and Hoboken so I'm covered.

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Kalebxtentacion t1_izy6v0i wrote

And guess what when they do surprise me the same ticket I still have will be waiting for them. That goes for the online ticket too.

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ryanov t1_j00sd4i wrote

Mass transit should be free, but it isn’t, and if you can afford it, quit screwing around or you’re eventually gonna have to pay $75.

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thebruns t1_izy5qni wrote

Stop committing crimes

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Kalebxtentacion t1_izy62lp wrote

Yeah me having unused tickets is committing crimes. I bought a light rail ticket months ago and still no officer has collected it yet, I don’t think it’s a crime to use a ticket that has been stamped or collected. Even my online ticket I bought back in June still haven’t used it. But I am the problem

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ryanov t1_j00skee wrote

Unless a ticket is validated or activated, it’s not valid for the train. It sounds like you don’t understand how it works.

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thebruns t1_izy6o92 wrote

Thats not how it works. You are required to activate it before you ride. Having an unactivated ticket means nothing.

It is a proof of payment system which means you are expected to pay every time (activate the ticket) and only rare prove you did so (and get fined if you didnt).

https://www.njtransit.com/tickets/light-rail-tickets

>Newark light rail system operates as a "proof-of-payment" fare collection system. This policy requires that you have a time-stamped ticket prior to boarding a light rail car and retain your ticket until you leave the station area at your final destination. Under the proof-of-payment fare collection, tickets will not be collected. Passengers should be prepared to show a time-stamped ticket or a monthly pass to a Fare Enforcement Officer if requested. If you do not have a stamped ticket, you will be subject to fines up to $100.

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Kalebxtentacion t1_izy7axx wrote

Idk about that some of the officers really don’t care if I activate the ticket or not. There were times where my ticket wasn’t stamped but they still take it. NJT can have all the rules they want for the light rail but it’s up to the enforcement to enforce those rules. The amount of high school kids I’ve seen get let go free is crazy and even when I was in highschool me and my friends never got into trouble with the officers when they decided to show up.

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thebruns t1_izy7su7 wrote

> There were times where my ticket was stamped but they still take it.

Yes thats how it works.

>NJT can have all the rules they want for the light rail but it’s up to the enforcement to enforce those rules.

So its legal to kill people as long as you dont get caught?

You live in a society. Stop committing crimes.

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sutisuc t1_izyfjtq wrote

“Crimes”

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thebruns t1_j02lmnr wrote

If you want to be pedantic, it is one crime.

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sutisuc t1_j02mzbf wrote

I wouldn’t consider skipping out on a transit fare a crime. Kinda like how not paying for parking or skipping a toll isn’t a crime. Or do you think transit riders should be punished more severely than car drivers?

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thebruns t1_j02o7cv wrote

No, I fully agree that double parking should be a jailable offense. Fuck those people.

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sutisuc t1_j02p57m wrote

Well it’s not so why the double standard for people not paying a train fare?

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thebruns t1_j02put0 wrote

Ask Gov Murphy.

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sutisuc t1_j02t9u2 wrote

I don’t need to ask governor Murphy he’s not the one who referred to someone skipping a transit fare as “crimes”

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thebruns t1_j02trzl wrote

And if OP had double parked I would have told him to stop committing crimes as well.

You might find a more valuable use of your time is to not make up arguments that dont exist

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sutisuc t1_j02ulqz wrote

Your entire existence on this website is to just be combative and pedantic you’re in no position to judge how anyone else uses their time here

The source is your post history dummy

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