Chile's Chamber of Deputies passed legislation on Wednesday to strengthen fare enforcement across the Metropolitan Region’s public transit system. The bill, approved by an overwhelming majority with no dissenting votes, now moves to the executive branch for formal enactment.
The new law mandates that passengers caught without a valid ticket must pay their fare along with an additional surcharge. If a rider refuses to pay, transit personnel now have the legal authority to force them off the bus or Metro train.
New enforcement measures
The legislation introduces a presumption of evasion for any passenger who boards a bus through the rear doors. Officials designed this measure to close a common loophole and improve control throughout the city’s transit network.
Authorities also targeted the misuse of subsidized transit cards. Under the new rules, cards issued for students or senior citizens will be permanently confiscated if used by unauthorized individuals. The Undersecretariat of Transport will manage the reporting process and oversee the application of these sanctions.
Independent Deputy Carlos Bianchi, the bill’s primary sponsor, argued that the current system is unsustainable. He cited data showing that nearly 40% of passengers in Santiago bypass fare payments.
"The law will allow us to reverse this situation," Bianchi said after the vote. He projected that the crackdown will have a positive impact on the country's public finances by recovering lost revenue.
Proponents of the bill emphasized that the measure aims to stabilize the financial health of the transportation system. With the legislative process complete, the government is expected to finalize the implementation details in the coming weeks.
