Fare evasion low in WA

About 70,000 ticket checks are done at metropolitan train stations each day, resulting in Perth having the lowest rate of fare evasion in the nation.

Public Transport Authority figures show 26.02 million ticket checks were done in 2013-14 - up almost five million on the number of checks three years ago.

The tough regime has also led to fewer infringement notices - 63,029 in 2012-13 to 51,764 in 2013-14.

Under current regulations, Perth fare evaders face fines up to $500. At the least, they could be given a $100 on-the-spot penalty.

Transperth spokesman David Hynes said WA's fare evasion rate was 0.2 per cent - the lowest in the country.

It is between 5 and 10 per cent in most other States. In Melbourne the rate fell from 8.9 per cent to 5.9 per cent because of a sustained campaign targeting fare evaders.

Mr Hynes said about 500 Transperth staff were involved in regular ticket checks on trains, at stations and at fare gates.

"Each week, staff conduct about half a million ticket checks," he said. "About 1500 to 2000 fines are issued each week."

Another major reason for Perth's low evasion rate is the high use of SmartRider tickets.

More than seven in 10 passengers use SmartRider cards, enabling fares to be deducted without the need for commuters to buy a ticket. The system was introduced in 2007. There are about 60 million SmartRider transactions a year.