Is it bad to jump the turnstile?

The turnstile is designed to prevent fare evasion and jumping over it is considered a form of fare evasion. Additionally, it can be dangerous and cause injury to the person attempting to jump over it, as well as to other passengers who may be in the area.



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What happens if you jump the subway gate? The charge for jumping a subway turnstile is Theft of Services, a violation of New York Penal Section 165.15, a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

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Since our initial report was issued, the subway and bus fare evasion rates have increased. The first quarter of 2023 (January–March) saw an increase of 11.1% (± 0.9%) for subways and an estimated increase of 37.6% for buses.

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Fare evasion is considered a civil case issue and not a criminal case issue. Meaning there's not gonna be any cops hunting you down to put you in jail or anything if that's what you're worried about. What'll most likely happen is the fine and penalties will be reduced to a default judgment accruing interest annually.

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But for many, New York is also an unaffordable city, and economic necessity figures in fare evasion. “New Yorkers of less economic means are often forced to choose between MetroCards and food or rent,” the Columbia University economist Harold Stolper wrote in 2020.

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NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said, “Our message to New York City's youth is clear: Always ride inside the train. Subway surfing is dangerous, it is illegal, and it can be lethal. The NYPD will continue to do everything we can to stop this reckless behavior — but it starts with sound decision making.

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Fare evasion on buses accounted for nearly half of the estimated $700 million the MTA lost to non-payment in 2022. “All of a sudden, buses have become the No. 1 fare evasion problem,” said MTA chairman Janno Lieber.

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