Today while riding the Bx6 SBS fare inspectors boarded. When the inspector got to me, he asked me how old I was. I told him 19. He then asked if I’m in school. I told him that I’m in college. He asked if my college provides me with an OMNY card. I told him no, and that I paid with my phone. I proceeded to pull up my Apple Wallet and tell him to scan it. Instead of scanning it, he tells me that I am an “adult” and “adults pay their fare.”
The issue is I did pay my fare. And, once more, I told him to tap my phone with the reader he was holding in his hands. At this point he told me to “stay right there–don’t move” and exited the bus. A moment after he stepped off, however, the bus doors closed and the bus drove away. I was in the back of the bus–I hadn’t moved since the inspectors got on the bus–but that meant I was one of the last people they talked to, so I’m guessing the inspection had reached its time limit?
Was he about to write me a ticket? He didn’t even ask for any evidence that I paid, yet I still offered my phone twice. I was alone, so it’s not like I was with a group of high schoolers. I’ve heard that sometimes people have to show them their online banking to prove they paid. Not that he even asked–or that I would be willing to do that–but I couldn’t even do that because I reached my fare cap two days ago. I didn’t receive any charge. But I did tap.
And if this happens in the future, should I just opt to not answer their questions, like you would with police, and only provide them with proof of payment? I really don’t understand. It seemed to me, at least, that he was presuming my guilt because of my apparent age.
submitted by /u/squadroncuddles
[link] [comments]
