This is the letter I have submitted to Transit in The City of Vancouver
To whom it may Concern:
I ride your transit system here in Vancouver quite frequently, although I do not find the service or the hours of operation to be satisfactory for a city of our size, though I do still frequent it when I have to.
I do not however find the services of Transit Police to be at all adequate nor do they make me feel safe in any way, they actually now make me feel threatened and belittled. I was fined on Sunday evening on your skytrain for not having a ticket in a fare paid zone! I feel that the fines that you have are unjust and very expensive for such an offense and am curious as to how a $2.50 fare can be justified to a $173.00 ticket. This is my first question and complaint to transit authorities and to the city of Vancouver.
My second complaint would be of the officer that fined me on Sunday evening. I do not have his name and actually did not keep a copy of your ticket that was issued to me. I have since realized that was a mistake and emailed you earlier today to get the ticket number and information so I may fight this. The officer that issued me the ticket for my offense was in my opinion a very belittling and condescending man. I also feel that I was singled out because I am a very out Gay male and feel that this had a lot to do with the way I was treated. I treat all in the world with respect but not unless they deserve and give it in return. This officer was rude and was saying things like all you must think this is my first time, do you think I am stupid and then asking my partner his age and everything and that was after he showed his proof of payment, Is that really any of your business? Our age!
The incident took place at Nanaimo Sky Train Station East Bound on Sunday January 30, 2011 in the evening at around 7:00pm or 7:30pm. Now although I am guilty of not purchasing a fare ticket to ride your train on this event. I feel it is unjust to fine a person of a first offense with a $173.00 ticket. This ticket is much higher than most traffic infractions here in BC. It is really no wonder people do not use the transit system here as widely as other Canadian Cities. I know I will not be using it if I do not have to. Also it is no wonder more people are choosing to drive and further pollute and drive drunk in Vancouver. I would be glad to be a ticket of a lesser charge and or have recieved a warning, which I think is more than fair in most cases. I am not sure how you all come up with your fine , but I think this needs to be looked into. Also maybe talking to your officers and making sure they are not so discriminatory against race, and sexual orientation. This is the first time I have ever rode transit without purchasing a ticket and I did this in a drunken state. I am not proud of either of those facts but I am still sure that if I had been a white female the outcome would have been different.
In the end Greater Vancouver Area as you call yourselves, if you want to ensure people pay their transit fare make it a gated entry system and hire some ticket takers t work at all your sky train stations. Create some jobs for people in need and get the transit police out doing something useful and arresting those who are really breaking the law.
As I state I know and accept my guilt in this but am not happy and plan to fight the amount of the ticket and the way that your officer treated myself and my partner. I am tired of being made an example from and pushed around by the straight and all mighty white man with a badge. You need to educate officers more on common courtesies and maybe they will gain respect instead of disgust!
I look forward to your response and thank you for your time in advance.
Yours Truly,
Michael Potter
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