"I could demonstrate to you that every single bank robbery, that in every single case practically, the cost of the police was more than the actual money that the robbers took from the bank. Does that mean, 'Oh, you see, there's really no economic interest involved, then. They're not protecting the banks. The police are just doing this because they're on a power trip, or they're macho, or they're control freaks, that'…
peak corruption at the top leads to higher prices and less money for enforcement. so you get a massive spike in fare beating mostly by people who cannot afford it.
i would argue that enforcement should be extreme for quality of life in the subway and harshly punished. fare beating though is not the problem....
in fact, it is loud playing of music (still) and homeless people smelling up the subway, and people EATING on the train and this kind of thing. it should be harshly punished with jail time or worse, just massive fines backed by jail time.
this way, the cost of cleaning the subway and making it useful for use will go down as those not willing to respect their fellow strap hangers will go broke if they refuse to do so. also more cameras in the subway for violations of subway code of ethics.
fare beating IS associated with delinquency, but it is the only thing i would say almost makes sense. you WANT people using the subway, not cars, not cabs, not even busses. it's zero emission at point of travel. powered by electric. it's what you want people depending on . and we don't have the sophistication quite yet to deploy a pay what you cann afford system. and frankly, i hope we never do. you wanna fare beat, go ahead. if you get caught on the spot, you should get a warning and a 100 dollar fine. not jail. if you don't pay fines, you get a warrant. and it should be punished with 100 hours of compelled service cleaning the subway. that's what makes sense!