STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — MTA fare inspectors were spotted checking passengers aboard a Staten Island bus near the St. George Ferry Terminal this week, with several riders reportedly removed from the bus after being checked for proof of payment.
A Staten Island Neighbors member who witnessed the enforcement said a group of inspectors boarded an S66 shortly after it departed the ferry area and checked riders. According to the witness, several passengers believed not to have paid the fare were taken off the bus.
The sighting prompted a large discussion among Staten Island residents, with several people reporting that they have recently seen similar enforcement activity at other locations across the borough.
One resident said officers had been seen at the same Bay Street location the previous week, while others reported seeing fare enforcement along Hylan Boulevard, near Old Town Road and in other parts of Staten Island.
Another rider reported a similar experience aboard an S46, saying inspectors were waiting at the first stop after the bus departed and removed several passengers.
How Are Riders Being Checked?
Residents who described the inspections said some passengers were asked to present the payment method they used to board. The original witness said inspectors did not check everyone aboard but asked several riders to present their payment method using a handheld device.
The reports come as fare evasion continues to be a major issue across New York City’s transit system. The Staten Island sightings suggest riders may encounter fare inspections not only at major transit hubs but also after buses have already begun their routes.
Reaction among residents was mixed. Many welcomed the enforcement, arguing that everyone using the transit system should pay the required fare. Others questioned how inspections are handled when payment equipment is unavailable or malfunctions, and some called for enforcement to be conducted consistently throughout Staten Island.
For Staten Island bus riders, the recent sightings provide a simple reminder: fare inspectors may be checking buses around the St. George Ferry Terminal and elsewhere across the borough, and riders should be prepared to show that their fare was paid.
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