Young fare evaders using ‘Morcombe factor’ as justification

CHILDREN younger than 10 are regular fare evaders on Gold Coast buses along with older teens using the city’s expanding public transport network to meet up in gangs.

The fare evasion button on Surfside Buslines was hit 1.67 million times in the 2017-18 financial year – three times more than just three years ago.

Children who refuse to pay are quick to remind drivers about Daniel Morcombe, who was left stranded at an unofficial Sunshine Coast bus stop before being abducted and killed in December, 2003.

A frustrated driver told the Bulletin: “I believe the numbers are higher as it is nothing to have up to 60 people a day on my bus. On the school buses at least 90 per cent do not pay and don’t have school passes.”

Most fare evaders were younger than 18 and could not be fined, just given warnings.

“This group now believe that it is their right to free travel and it is the law,” the driver said. “They all seem to quote Daniel Morcombe.

“It was started (accepting students without money or passes) to ensure that young persons were not left in unsafe areas. We are (now) considered their free taxi to wherever they want to go. I get people under the age of 10 fare evading.”

State Government figures released this month show fare evaders were ripping off almost $3 million a year as blitzes caught about 400 people each month.

Drivers estimate TransLink officers have appeared less than 10 times in the past year.

“Many of these young persons do damage to buses,” the driver said. “I have had them squirt tomato sauce over seats, kick doors, harass other passengers, threaten myself, and have had buses put out of service due to their actions.

“We take kids to trams where they then meet in gangs and cause trouble. If we refuse to take them we can be sacked.”