Fare evasion is a theft of service. It is a challenge faced by transit systems across the country, and SEPTA is no exception. We estimate that fare evasion costs our system millions of dollars each year—money that could otherwise be used to improve service, safety and infrastructure for our riders.
Transit agencies in cities like New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. also report millions of dollars lost annually to theft of service. This is not just a SEPTA problem – but we are taking real steps to address it.
What We’re Doing About It
Enforcement
In spring 2024, SEPTA received approval to begin issuing criminal citations for fare evasion. In the one year since then, our Transit Police have issued nearly 6,000 citations with fines of up to $300. This effort has helped identify other illegal activity – resulting in over 700 arrests of wanted individuals and contributing to a 33% drop in serious crime, the largest one-year decrease in our Transit Police Department’s history.
Targeted Operations
We’ve begun focused enforcement at known fare evasion hot spots. For example, a four-week effort at Huntingdon Station on the [L] Market-Frankford Line brought fare evasion down to nearly zero while officers were on site. Similar actions will be underway at other key locations.
Surface Transit Patrols
SEPTA has launched a new Surface Transportation Unit dedicated to enforcing fare compliance on buses and trolleys, where entry is not controlled by fare gates.
Technology & Infrastructure
To stop fare evasion before it starts, we’re upgrading our infrastructure. New full-height fare gates – tested successfully at 69th Street Transit Center – will be installed at nine additional Metro stations starting in fiscal year 2026 (after July 1, 2026). This $10 million investment will make it harder to jump, crawl or sneak through without paying.
Fare Evasion Citations
Those who commit theft of service will receive a citation issued by a sworn officer. These officers will be in SEPTA Police Department uniforms and have a badge with badge number, as well as a name plate. The officer must identify themselves when asked.
Depending on where the citation was issued, it will look like one of the images below.
Contact Transit Police
- Emergency Phone: 215-580-8111
- Text-a-Tip: 215-234-1911
The “Help” tab on the SEPTA App, available for iOS and Android, lets you report incidents in seconds.
Emergency Call Boxes in subway stations put you in immediate contact with Transit Police.
To report an emergency, operator assault or suspicious situation and you do not have phone or call box access, notify a vehicle operator, conductor, or booth attendant immediately.
What to Do if You Receive a Citation
- Once a citation is issued, it is now a matter of the courts – it is no longer within SEPTA’s control, so contacting SEPTA is not the appropriate action. Instead, you should use the phone number for the Criminal Justice Center for any questions about a citation. You must comply with the court’s instructions.
- Payment of a fine will be required, which should be completed within 10 days via mail, web or in person.
- You may or may not be required to appear before a judge; instructions printed on your citation will indicate whether or not you must go to court.
- You can plead guilty and pay the fine, with the summary offense remaining on your record. In lieu of a fine, you can complete community service, and your record will be expunged.
- You can also choose to dispute the citation. In that case, you will be asked to come to court at a later date for further discussion.
- If you don’t appear in court on the assigned date, you will receive the maximum fine ($300) and may be obligated to pay court fees.
More on the Way
We’re also working on:
- Reducing rear-door boarding on buses
- Increasing fare checks by train conductors
- Cracking down on tailgating at ADA-accessible gates
- Partnering with schools and universities on awareness campaigns
- Exploring new technologies to identify and reduce evasion
- Considering “tap out” options across more transit modes
Fare payment is not just about revenue—it’s about fairness and safety. When people don’t pay, everyone loses. By stepping up enforcement and making strategic investments, we’re working hard to ensure that every rider does their part.