A PASSENGER who failed to buy a tram ticket has been hit with a £428 court bill.
Cameron Murphy, 22, of Longridge, Knutsford was unable to produce a valid ticket when requested by an authorised officer at Manchester Victoria on July 6, last year, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.
Magistrates found a charge of entering a Greater Manchester Metrolink vehicle and station without a valid ticket proved when the case was heard on November 20.
The defendant was fined £220 and ordered to pay £120 costs and £88 victim surcharge.
Murphy was given until December 18 to pay the £428 penalty.
Metrolink staff regularly travel across the tram network checking tickets.
Passengers unable to produce a valid ticket during an inspection are given a standard fare notice of £100 which must be paid within 21 days.
If the penalty is paid earlier, within 14 days, a 50 per cent discount is applied, and people should pay £50.
However if passengers fail to pay within 21 days, Metrolink will start legal proceedings to recover the money owed and the amount due will increase.
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