‘Inside Edition’ confronted suspected subway fare evaders in New York and now people are dragging the video for unnecessarily accosting commuters

By
Kelly McLaughlin, Insider
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  • “Inside Edition” released an investigation into New York subway fare jumpers in which they confronted commuters who appeared to be doing so.
  • The reporter questioned commuters on why they were skipping out on paying, and the commuters questioned why they were being confronted in the first place.
  • As New York City increases fares, trains continue to be delayed, and construction abounds, many people on Twitter asked why the investigation was done at all.

“Inside Edition”‘s investigation into New York subway fare evaders backfired as viewers accused the program of unnecessarily accosting commuters.

In a video published earlier this month, “Inside Edition” reported that New York lost $215 million in revenue in 2018 because of people who skipped out on paying their subway fares.

The show’s chief investigative reporter, Lisa Guerrero, looked into why people avoided the fares by visiting subway stations and stopping people who were apparently leaping over turnstiles and walking through open doors.

As New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) faces budget issues, fare increases, further delays, and an abundance of construction, many people on Twitter asked why “Inside Edition” decided to investigate fare jumpers in the first place.

Others applauded the commuters who asked Guerrero why she was confronted them:

About 4% of riders – or 208,000 people – ride the subway each day without paying, according to The New York Times.

Last November, the MTA warned of fare increases and further service cuts as it faced a looming budget crisis.

Read more: New York City is using technology that’s never been used in the United States to fix a damaged subway tunnel and avoid commuting hell

When asked about fare evaders, officials told The Times that some New Yorkers can’t afford the rising fares, while others might be protesting the delay-ridden system.

Another factor could be the Manhattan district attorney’s office’s decision not to prosecute people over fare evasion.

Fare jumpers now only face a fine up to $100 if they’re caught.