OttawaOC Transpo provided the data in an update to city councillors, who are worried the city could be losing millions to fare evasion.OC Transpo gives best guess of compliance rate at 97%OC Transpo fare inspectors have so far handed out more than 4,000 tickets in 2025, with the majority being issued at rail stations, according to an update at transit commission Thursday. (Melanie Campeau/CBC)OC Transpo’s fare inspectors handed out 4,059 tickets over the first eight months of this year.That data came as part of an update at Ottawa’s transit committee on Thursday. It showed that 2,654 of the tickets were issued at rail stations, while bus stations and other bus stops made up the rest.Fare inspectors also gave 580 warnings for infractions.Councillors have expressed alarm that OC Transpo, which has been grappling with a deep budget deficit, might be losing millions of dollars to fare evasion.They have asked OC Transpo for more detail, including a fare compliance rate that tracks the share of people who are actually paying for their trips.While transit officials say they don’t yet have a final number, chief safety officer Sabrina Pasian provided their current estimate of about 97 per cent.”This data is best viewed as a snapshot in time from targeted locations based on what our staff have been able to do,” she said. “It’s not staff across the entire system at all hours of the day.”Pasian explained that there are only four permanent and eight temporary staff doing fare inspection, though OC Transpo is looking at making the temporary inspectors permanent.”We can’t be everywhere at all times,” she said.The fine for not paying fare is $260.ABOUT THE AUTHORArthur White-Crummey is a reporter at CBC Ottawa. He has previously worked as a reporter in Saskatchewan covering the courts, city hall and the provincial legislature. You can reach him at arthur.white-crummey@cbc.ca.
OC Transpo fare inspectors have issued more than 4,000 tickets so far this year
