VIDEO Fines explode, public transport implodes

The fine for travelers using the public transport of the Bucharest transport company without a valid ticket or subscription will increase from 150 to 500 lei, in accordance with the new regulations, which will come into force soon. Mayor Gabriela Firea said on Tuesday about the tripling of fines that "the rules are respected around the world", and assured that the price of tickets in public transport operated by the Bucharest Transport Company would not be expensive. "Everywhere in the world, when you use a public service subsidized by the municipality, it is normal to respect these rules.It was a decision of the Intercommunity Development Association for public transport in Bucharest – Ilfov, on which I can not make any comment, "said Gabriela Firea.

Will public transportation improve?

Experts believe that simply increasing fines for travelers who do not have tickets may be useless if it is not associated with an increase in the quality of transportation services. "Any penalty benefits the honest traveler The problem is the existence of decent services In the context of buses running at intervals well below real needs, it is absurd to punish travelers who are no longer on the stairs. If the fines have gone up, the quality of services should also increase, it remains to be seen if this will happen, "said Sorin Mierlea, president of InfoCons – National Association for Consumer Protection.

In addition, the experts draw attention to the cost of applying these rules and the fact that, to be effective, this measure should be accompanied by other more creative measures. "A fine of 500 lei makes the trip without a ticket more risky, but any hardening of the rules increases the power of the person who will implement these measures." The temptation to reach out to the controllers will be much greater. In other words, the temptation to be corrupt increases and in a country like Romania, it is more expensive to impose such a rule.Of course, more than 30% of illegal travelers are a problem for the sustainability of this public service, but only the threat of a fine will not solve this problem.Are the severity of the fines, there are reasons why people choose not to pay, and one of the explanations is that we do not get a decent service from this money.Therefore it is necessary to improve the quality of the public transport conditions, "says Cristian Paun, professor of economics at the airport. Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest.

In his opinion, the absence of these complementary measures to improve the quality of public transport shows the laziness of those who are responsible for governance. "We already know the mode of public transport in civilized countries, the travel card has a time limit that encourages the use, there are discounts for consecutive use, it can be used on any other country. other means of transportation, etc. It was first to see why people do not pay this ticket.In this dilemma, "I do not pay for a bad service, a service that is stupid because I do not pay "- steps must be taken in both directions.Otherwise, the mere tightening of fines is a lazy feature of one who does not want to reform.This is the logo of a weak administrator. All those who can strengthen punitive measures, but it is much more difficult to offer quality services, "he concluded.

Tocami, therefore, Roxana Wring, city councilor on behalf of the USR, believes that the first step should come from the authorities, who offer decent transport conditions that encourage the use of public transportation and n & # 39; 39 impose these high fines. "We will not solve the problem by fines, but by investments.This increase in the fine will not result in an improvement in the quality of public transport, because the financing of the STB is not in no case provided by the cost of travel tickets Gabriela Firea had promised a free transport to Bucharest and the fines now amount to 500 lei, or 25% of the minimum wage in Romania.When we have decent conditions, This kind of harsh sanctions shows that there is no vision at the capital level for public transport, "she said.

The new STB regulation

According to the new regulation of the public transport service of the Community, a voyage bearing a valid but invalid title will result in a fine of 150 lei and the occupancy of seats on the seats with goods or luggage without the validation, in addition, from a travel document, carries a fine of 100 lei. The fine of 500 MDL will be applied for both the ticket and for other offenses such as physical or verbal aggression of STB staff, the request for opening doors between stations or traffic lights, discussions with the driver of the transit vehicle. during the trip, on the stairs, the consumption of alcoholic beverages on public transport, the damage to the vehicle or even the transport of birds.