Subway operator cracks down on fare dodging

SIX subway fare dodgers were caught within 30 minutes at a station on Line 6 during the morning rush hour yesterday as the city's Metro operator beefed up checks after a video clip showed many people didn't pay at the same stop last week. However, many commuters said they did not dodge fares on purpose, claiming crowd control restrictions at Jufeng Road Station keep them from boarding trains quickly and that they would be late for work otherwise. Metro officials said they would still "conduct random checks on fare dodging" and called for cooperation from passengers. Yesterday, a team of 20 started checks at the station at about 7:40am. Long lines formed at the turnstiles as some were closed to limit passengers entering the platform. A man suddenly rushed toward one closed turnstile, squeezing under it, but was stopped as he made his way to the platform. He was asked by Metro workers to get out and line up again. Another person took out a cell phone and began filming the long line-ups after he was caught trying to dodge the fare. "Look at the lines," he said. "We are stuck here." Another commuter was found carrying a forged certificate that entitled him to free rides. "These fare dodgers set a bad example," said Jiang Xue, an official with the operator of Line 6. People can be fined up to 10 times the fare, but are usually just ordered to buy a ticket.

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