Fares up, fines not

Odd news from Transport for London, where Boris Johnson decided to go ahead with fare increases on 2nd January but hold off increasing fines for fare evasion until 19th February.

So for seven weeks or so, the law-abiding get to pay more and the lawbreakers get away with frozen fine levels.

As Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon says:

At a time when the Mayor is hiking up fares for honest passengers it is totally wrong that he is failing to take decisive action against those who are playing the system.

The excuse given is that time is required to update the official warning posters. Except … the plan to increase fares and fines was all put into place last year and there was plenty of time to get the posters right in time for 2nd January./