A university student has expressed outrage after being issued a fine by a ticket inspector in Sydney for failing to present his identification quickly enough. The student, identified only as Draven, was penalized while using public transport managed by Transport for NSW, with the inspector reportedly telling him, 'You'll win,' if he contested the penalty.
Frustration Over the Incident
Draven shared his frustration on social media, stating he was 'f***ing spewing' about the situation. 'Why did he give me a fine in the first place? I was going to give him my digital card,' Draven said. 'I'm like okay, I'm pulling it up, but he didn't want to wait. He goes, "You are taking too long, just take this and fight it in the mail, you'll win," so now it's just a hassle.'
Draven, who is pursuing a postgraduate degree online at an unnamed institution, was asked to show his student card after tapping on with a concession card. However, he did not have a physical card due to the nature of his studies. 'Because I'm doing my postgraduate online, I don't have a physical card, but I've got a digital card,' Draven explained. Since his digital card was not saved on his new phone, he attempted to prove his student status by showing his work, including an email and an assignment he was working on that morning. Despite this, the inspector handed him the ticket, seemingly unwilling to wait.
Similar Experiences Shared
Many Australians reported having similar encounters with ticket inspectors. One commenter said, 'When I started TAFE and I hadn't got my card yet but got my concession, I showed them I was enrolled, but I still got a fine.' Another shared, 'I lost my wallet on the bus a few days before I had tapped on. I showed them I ordered a new entitlement card and that my wallet was at the bus depot and they gave me a fine after telling me I would only get a caution.' A third added, 'As a worker in transport, I have seen this happen to heaps of students and inspectors not accept the digital ID.'
Allegations of Quotas
Some individuals claimed that ticket inspectors are required to meet quotas or key performance indicators (KPIs) to retain their jobs. 'They have a KPI or a quota they need to meet to keep their jobs,' one person said. Another echoed, 'That’s ridiculous, he probably did that to meet his targets.' A third stated, 'They have KPIs they need to meet, so will just tell you anything so they can issue you with one.'
Eligibility for Concession
According to Transport for NSW's guidelines for issuing tertiary student concessions, eligibility is limited to six specific circumstances. Students must be 'enrolled in an accredited course of study with a registered higher education provider' and be a 'full-time student enrolled on an internal basis,' unless they have a disability. If Draven was studying his postgraduate degree online, he may not have been eligible for a concession card in the first place.
Daily Mail has contacted Transport for NSW for comment.
