Honor System Ends On Metro Rail Red, Purple Lines

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The honor system is ending on the subways of Southern California.

The board of directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted Thursday to begin locking gates at Red Line and Purple Line subway stations this summer, bringing an end to the ticketing system that's been in place for more than two decades.

Riders on the county's light rail system have previously been expected to be holding a pass or ticket, and faced a $250 fine if they were caught without one.

The new system is closer to those in other big cities. Tickets will have transponders and riders will hold them against a sensor to open the gates.

Metro officials say the old system has cost them as much as $7 million annually in lost fare revenue.

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