Arriva has admitted some of its bus drivers are defying regulations by selling discounted tickets to passengers without asking to see their ID cards.
The bus operator insists all drivers are trained to ask each passenger whether they have a Maltese identity card which permits them to purchase a discounted ticket, and to ask passengers to show their ID card accordingly.
However, a spokesman said: “Our initial investigation has shown that in practice, not everyone who purchases a ticket is currently being asked. The reasons include that some drivers may recognise those who live close to them and therefore don’t ask them to produce their valid photo identification card...
“And other drivers when faced with many people boarding at once aren’t always checking identification so as not to hold the boarding process up.”
Arriva has come under fire for what critics say is the arbitrary way that drivers and ticket inspectors enforce the regulations that permit holders of Malta ID cards to purchase tickets which cost up to 40 per cent less than the standard fare.
There have been reports, confirmed by The Sunday Times, that some drivers are only asking to inspect the ID cards of passengers who do not ‘look Maltese’ or do not speak the language, leading to allegations of discrimination.
The Arriva spokesman blamed Transport Malta for the fare system and insisted Arriva was doing its best to operate without discrimination.
“The fare system is admittedly a challenge but we have to meet the requirements set out in the contract with Transport Malta, so we are looking into this further and are discussing additional driver training to ensure that we do this consistently,” the spokesman said.
“It is not about who is Maltese and who is not, it is a question of holding and presenting the necessary valid photo identification card issued by the government to qualify for the discounted fare. To qualify for the pensioners’ fare one has to produce a Kartanzjan card – this is the same principle,” the spokesman insisted.
ID cards should be carried by passengers at all times when travelling on Arriva buses with discounted tickets, the spokesman added, because inspectors may board buses and request to see tickets at any time.
Passengers who fail to produce their ID cards when asked may be liable to a €10 penalty fare. The spokesman pointed out this information was detailed for passengers in the Arriva information packs which were posted to homes last May, and is also on the Arriva Malta website.
Arriva encourages regular bus users to apply for a Saver Card as a valid ID card is noted when the application is submitted, so it is then not necessary to show a driver anything other than this card when boarding a bus. Saver Card application forms are available at main branches of Malta Post or they can be downloaded from www.arriva.com.mt.
A European Commission inquiry to determine whether the fare structure discriminates against EU citizens and is contrary to EU law is ongoing.
pcooke@timesofmalta.com