Fare evader sends $300 to the T to assuage his guilt

In other countries, they can use bluetooth through devices like their phones to hold their mass transit payment info (like ApplePay/TouchPay that's slowly rolling out here). These still require gates at the doors.

However, the no-booth EZPass that you're thinking about has a backup system for those that might try to shirk payment. It takes a picture of your license plate and uses license records to send you a bill if you went through without a transponder. That's not so obvious with a swarm of people in a crowd. Pedestrians don't wear license plates.

The real option for what you're looking for is to setup a bunch of stations that will timestamp your transit card (physically or digitally) and then use transit cops to monitor compliance with a huge fine if you're caught without a card or with an unstamped card. This way you don't need to gate everyone. You just run up and down the trains at random and check for compliance and you can have everyone stamp their cards at their leisure throughout the stations (or on the trains as they enter).

That's his name. Actually there was an anchor on WBZ who had that last name also (Joe Shortsleeve). He said he was constantly asked if that was his real last name.

How many people used to take the T but stopped because of overcrowding? Seeing as how the cost to run a train is a fixed amount irrespective of number of riders it would seem to impact of overcrowding far outweighs the relatively small few who don't have a monthly pass and manage to slip by the conductor.

There is an equilibrium in which the T is reliable and uncrowded enough to attract many riders, a vast majority of which pay as they should. Obviously fare jumping needs to stop but it's a drop in the bucket compared to the much larger problems facing the system. It might feel good to see these people caught but when you can't squeeze onto a train what's the point?

...is part of why I get so frustrated with the Fare is Fair attack on commuter rail riders. There's rampant fare evasion on the subway as well, but it's easier to vilify the commuter rail contractor for their problems.

That said, I have seen more fare evasion enforcement by TPD at Park St and Kendall in the last year that I ever recall before. So they might be starting.

That said, enjoyed another ride w/o fares collected last night...because what should be a 5-6 car commuter train was jammed in to 4 cars again. Up in the front car, the crew didn't even bother, and I don't blame them. Aisle was filled end-to-end, we were three stops out of North Station before it was easy to walk through. By then, it's unfair to the people going further out to collect when the zone 1/2 riders get out free.

FWIW, I have a pass.