The number of fines for bad manners handed out by controllers on the Flemish public transport network, De Lijn, increased from 1,239 in 2015 to 2,626 in 2017, notes Wednesday the Flemish Mediator in its annual report. At the same time, the number of fines issued against riders without a bus ticket has gone up by nearly 30% (from 51,745 to 66,829).
De Lijn explains these high increases by the greater number of targeted controls (+25%), and promises to keep stepping up this effort, especially on the tramways, where there is a higher number of riders without a ticket. The company had raised the fines in 2015. It also points out that 98% of its clientele properly pays its transportation tickets.
The Brussels Times
