Metrolinx to increase GO Transit and UP Express fare evasion fines

Metrolinx GO Transit fare evasion transit fines UP Express

Metrolinx has announced a significant increase in fare evasion fines for GO Transit and UP Express, effective September 8, 2026. The new penalty structure is designed to increase voluntary compliance and reduce repeat offences.

Under the new rules, a first offence will incur a $200 fine, a substantial increase from the current $35 penalty. Subsequent offences will escalate by $100 for each instance, reaching $500 for a fourth offence. A fifth offence will result in a Provincial Offence Notice with a fine determined by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice. For sixth and subsequent offences, riders may face a court summons with fines reaching up to $1,000 upon conviction.

Metrolinx staff project that these changes could generate between $6.79 million and $10.18 million in additional revenue. During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, inspections revealed a 5.02 per cent fare evasion rate across 1,557,243 inspections.

Entities

GO Transit · Metrolinx · Ontario Court of Justice · UP Express

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Fines for subsequent offences will increase by $100 per offence up to the fourth offence. urbanicity.com · toronto.citynews.ca · www.durhamradionews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, 5.02 per cent of inspections found passengers without valid proof of fare. toronto.citynews.ca
[○ 1 SOURCE] Increased fines are projected to generate between $6.79 million and $10.18 million in additional revenue. toronto.citynews.ca
[● 3 SOURCES] Sixth and subsequent offences may result in a court summons with fines up to $1,000 upon conviction. urbanicity.com · toronto.citynews.ca · www.durhamradionews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] A fifth offence will result in a Provincial Offence Notice with a fine set by the Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice. urbanicity.com · toronto.citynews.ca · www.durhamradionews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The fine for a first fare evasion offence will increase to $200. urbanicity.com · toronto.citynews.ca · www.durhamradionews.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Metrolinx will increase fare evasion fines for GO Transit and UP Express starting September 8, 2026. urbanicity.com · toronto.citynews.ca · www.durhamradionews.com

Sources

GO Transit is increasing fare evasion fines by at least 300% [urbanicity.com]

1 day ago

Metrolinx gets tough with fare evaders, hikes fines [durhampost.ca]

about 10 hours ago

Fare evasion fines on GO Transit and UP Express set to spike dramatically in September [toronto.citynews.ca]

1 day ago

Metrolinx increasing fare evasion fines in September [www.durhamradionews.com]

1 day ago

Metrolinx hikes penalties for fare evasion to $200 and higher - Toronto [globalnews.ca]

1 day ago