What passengers need to know about SNCF’s new ‘Stop Fraud’ travel initiative
Six transport operators are set to implement the system this week
Inspectors on passenger transport services, including SNCF and RATP, will be able to verify addresses of those given fines on board
Henry Saint John/Shutterstock
Six passenger transport operators in France are set to implement new measures designed to crack down on fine fraud, including SNCF and RATP.
What will the initiative include?
The ‘Stop fraude’ initiative - which has been approved by Cnil, the French data protection watchdog - will enable operators to check the address stated by people who are being given fines for travelling without a valid ticket, in a bid to verify their identity and ensure their fine does not get ‘lost in the post’.
The details of the new system were set out in a decree published on December 3. The scheme is set to come into force on Wednesday, January 8.
Read also: What documents must you carry on French train to avoid a fine?
Read more: Train e-ticket travellers fined in France for not carrying ID
How will operators check the details?
Operators will have access to tax files at the Direction générale des Finances publiques (DGFiP) as a major way of checking this information at the end of each day.
Will the checks be in real-time?
Not immediately, but this may happen if a new bill passes.
Inspectors will not immediately be able to check addresses at the time of the check but a draft law is also set to enable real-time verification during transport inspector checks.
This is being tabled by Alpes-Maritimes Senator and new Minister for Transport Philippe Tabarot, in a bid to “strengthen transport security”.
Why is the system being implemented?
The transport operators are aiming to recoup some of the estimated €700 million lost in fines per year to fraudulent passengers.
Half of this affects SNCF, while the other half affects RATP and other urban transport networks. RATP alone estimates its losses at €171 million per year.
“Fraud is a scourge that greatly reduces the capacity of local authorities and public transport operators in terms of renewing equipment, the transport offer and travel comfort, ” said industry union UTPF (l’Union des transports publics et ferroviaires) in a press release.
Which operators will use the scheme?
The operators set to use the scheme so far (and who also funded its creation) are:
Other transport networks will be able to use the scheme within three months, said the UTPF which represents more than 150 operators.
