Way to cheat Translink’s Compass card system discovered

The new Compass card system is supposed to prevent fare evasion at a cost of nearly $200 million to taxpayers.

However, a way to scam the system has been discovered and it appears there’s not much Translink can do about it.

The Compass card system works this way: you scan your card when you enter a station, then scan it again when you get off the train at your destination stop.

The card automatically charges you a three zone fare, then credits your account when you get off in one zone or two.

As it turns out, those who want to evade the fare again can get off the train after one zone and scan their card so they’re only charged once at a lower rate.

Translink issued the following statement to Global News Tuesday evening:

“There will continue to be some areas where fare evasion may be possible and will concentrate our additional system improvements and ongoing fare checks in these areas. We want people to know that if they cheat the system and are caught, we will fine them.”

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The Compass card is set to debut in 2014.