it's 18 minutes, not 15

There is no evidence that zero tolerance on petty crime (i.e. fare beating) has had anything to do with the decrease in crime since 1990. People have tried to prove a connection and have been unsuccessful.

these things stink, but the cops have to do their jobs. they cant look the other way if people double up through the turnstile. one of the previous posters is correct about cracking down on farebeaters - the cops are there catching criminals before they actually do something wrong while in the subway system. this stategy works. anyone who rode the subway in the 70s and 80s can attest to this fact. it's like cleaning up manhattan by getting rid of the squeegee men and the porn shops. Bratton and Kerik knew what they were doing and Ray Kelly is maintaining and improving upon their policies. in the process, there will be an occasional instance where someone is ticketed for doing something that was "technically" wrong, even though there was no criminal intent. if this person shows up in court with the rider whom he helped, the ticket will get thrown out after the MTA looks at the time stamps on their metrocards.

Tickets are usually driven by quotas.

Quotas are driven by bureaucrats.

Bureaucrats are driven by Satan.

"A real cop will go out and look out for real crimes like rape and murder which happen every second instead of standing near the turnstile looking for someone to give that damn ticket. "

They are looking for that, at the same time-it's easy to do both. However they are obligated to enforce the law and are supposed to have very little discretion on who they stop. If they went out looking for "real crime" and ignored this it would be easy to argue that they were favoring certain groups.

However by stopping people for fare evasion you can easily run them for warrants and catch "real" criminals.

A real cop will go out and look out for real crimes like rape and murder which happen every second instead of standing near the turnstile looking for someone to give that damn ticket.

Actually, the time between swipes on an unlimited Metrocard is 17 minutes.

"You said the police officer did not "have to be nice to you." Wrong. Members of the NYPD are obligated to be "courteous," even when writing a ticket."

Actually, being nice and being courteous are two different things at times, so he's not necessarily wrong.

"If they are "discourteous," they are subject to discipline, and they are not doing their job right."

And it's entirely subjective what you think is discourtesy.

"So regardless of whether you think it's okay to let someone else through a HEET without stealing a fare when the MTA's equipment malfunctions (I'd argue you'd have to be a dick NOT to do so), "

Noone is arguing that the system is malfuncioning, the rider malfunctioned, by turning the turnstile from the wrong place.

"please don't buy into the myth that cops can simultaneously (1) do their job and (2) not be nice to someone they're writing a ticket to."

The real myth hear is why people think they are smarter than cops who do this repeatedly, daily and are strictly supervised and randomly tested frequently. Sometimes-just for courtesy.

If your metrocard is unlimited and the turnstile victimizes you, go to court on the ticket. Saying "I just swiped it and turned the turnstile improperly" is like saying "I charged someone to use my unlimited metrocard and then decided to enter illegally."

Further two people entering on one turn of the turnstile is ALWAYS ILLEGAL-duh!

Why do the cops write summonses in the hole? That's how crime has dropped. Idiots who will later commit violent crime will often fare evade, drink in the subway and otherwise violate the New York City Rules and Regulations first. Also, fighting crime is about warrant checks-as often as possible, that's why the police stop folks.

If the police relaxed the standard, we can return to the 1970s.

Dirk,

You said the police officer did not "have to be nice to you." Wrong. Members of the NYPD are obligated to be "courteous," even when writing a ticket. If they are "discourteous," they are subject to discipline, and they are not doing their job right. So regardless of whether you think it's okay to let someone else through a HEET without stealing a fare when the MTA's equipment malfunctions (I'd argue you'd have to be a dick NOT to do so), please don't buy into the myth that cops can simultaneously (1) do their job and (2) not be nice to someone they're writing a ticket to.

You know why I hate the HEET? They look way too much like egg slicers to me. I feel like one day I might come out on the other side all segmented like a hard-boiled egg. On a groggy morning, that thought is enough to make me walk to another entrance.

I'd like to know how I was "cheating," "fare beating" or "stealing" from the system if we both had unlimited cards. Such "laws" are in effect because the MTA is simply too lazy to deal with poorly designed and malfunctioning turnstyles (see aforementioned classy behavior in the stroller story above).

Frankly, I don't give a shit if cops are assholes, but the good ones should, as they are the ones who also end up with tarnished reputations (and to clarify, I HAVE dealt with very decent members of the NYPD). Then again I suppose there's no incentive to act like a human being when you're undercover in faux ghetto thug attire and tackily spiked/highlighted hair.

Just this week I had to SQUEEZE myself, my baby, the stroller, our bags through one of these things because there wasn't a single person to let us out the service exit.

Wait, actually, there were 2 MTA employees emptying trash who said "It wasn't their job," and then laughed while I struggled.

Really classy.

But those things are fun when you play 'husband in the cage", "friend in the cage'....or whoever. If no one else is around, go through first then stop the rotation. Ah...good times.

Thank you MTA for making communting HELL! Give yourself a raise...

Great JOB.

LOve all riders

Pregnant or not...don't sit on the effing stairs. it blocks foot traffic, and is a hazard. i read that dumb chick who got a ticket for sitting on the steps was complaining that subway station seats are dirty...sooo she sat on the stairs...smart...

I fail to see how it was fare beating if the person actually paid and was unable to get through the first time. Its the same as the token clerk allowing you to swipe at a turnstile and then walk through the door.

And enough of this moral shit. You got caught. NEXT time cheat the system at a station where there’s less of a chance of a cop being around.

The cops are just doing their jobs. There’s no need to call them idiots (even though a lot of them are

Doesn't matter if the cop was an asshole with you or not. You broke the law (no matter how trivial the offense may seem to you). The cop didn't have to hear what your excuse was. Nor did he have to be nice to you. Sure there were probably more serious crimes happening somewhere else, but fare-beating is fare-beating. Break the law = Get ticket. I hope the person you helped offered to pay your ticket.

C,

Idiot Cops probably had the same experience I did with a HEET, and the undercover cops involved with my ticket were the Biggest Assholes Known To Man. It would have been just as effective if they had quietly taken us aside with a warning and explained that if his unlimited card didn't work, that didn't give me the right to be Good Samaritan. Instead they flashed their badges for the entire platform to see and acted as though we had robbed a bank. Some police are heroes, but these kind deserve to be bashed at every opportunity (this also goes for the ones who, ticket pregnant women who sit on the stairs, girl scouts selling cookies, etc.). If they're so miserable, no one if forcing them to work for the NYPD.

Also, your solution doesn't make sense, since you would still have to wait 15 minutes with an unlimited card.

They are simply the most stupidly designed thing I've ever seen in any subway system in the world. All in an effort to deter fare beaters. The entire system is just pitiful, clinging to ancient technology, with 'modern' patches like the HEET added on. Get with the 20th century already. Ban the HEET!!!!

A lady and her son totally tried to scam me at a HEET on 26th/8th. An older woman went thru the HEET first, I was in the space behind her. As she was exiting the HEET, and I continued to push forward, one of the bottom bars grazed her foot/ankle. She started screaming and crying saying I broke her foot/ankle, her teenage son got in face threatening to sue me. I offered to call an ambulance, she said they have no insurance. Her son continued to get in my face demanding my contact info and cash, saying they'll go to hospital and would stick me w/ all treatment costs, sue me, etc. When I told them that I wouldn't give them any contact information or a penny until I called MY lawyers, the lady had a miraculous recovery and practically ran away.

I wonder if anyone else has seen this kind of HEET scam??