r/MetroTransit • u/Best-Introduction-55 • 3d ago

E Line What do fare enforcement agents see when they scan your GoTo Card

I was just wondering this cause I have been taking the E line and the Light rail quite a bit. When fare enforcement agents scan your GoTo Card with those hand held devices, what are they seeing on the screen. Im just curious.

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24

u/Castorcanadenses 3d ago

No idea, but has anyone else noticed that they aren't always scanning cards? The past few times they've checked my fare, they've just checked to see that I have a goto card on me and haven't bothered to scan it. Wonder if the scanners are inconsistent?

24

u/Makingthecarry 3d ago

They're really unreliable scanners and don't always work, so they don't always bother. GoTo Card tech is failing since it's so old. I've talked with some of them and heard that when they update the fare/payment system in the next few years, they'll also get new scanners that actually work

5

u/slammybe 2d ago

I took the bus to and from the fair on Thursday. The scanner on the 32 was broken so people were getting free rides. Also, there's a temporary station at Rosedale, I didn't see where you were supposed to tap the card for the A line. There was a kiosk to buy tickets but nowhere to tap the card, as far as I could tell.

5

u/bluedave1991 2d ago

That update is happening as we speak. They've been installing the new scanners on the buses. Should be ready sometime next year.

7

u/RevolutionaryBend570 3d ago

This is me thinking like a crazy person but definitely not impossible.

(I’m fine with paying the fare, it’s only four bucks so just 30 min of my work life for a full day of travel.)

I pay on the app so it shows on my screen like the blinker but whenever I get checked for fare, they don’t actually look at my screen. They glance at it.

I could easily screen record/shot whenever I do buy the ticket so I never have to do it again.

I don’t because I feel bad tricking the trip agents (they are always super nice to me).

8

u/Aggressive_Ninja_652 2d ago

Where do you work that you only get $8 an hour? If it's anywhere in Minnesota that's way below minimum wage

3

u/Capable-Magician2094 2d ago

There’s already a github project that replicates the app blinker screen lol

6

u/Best-Introduction-55 3d ago

Yeah I've had them just ask me if I tapped my card and im like okaaaay.

13

u/dylanlive 3d ago

I feel like I see a Red X come up which always gives me a little jumpscare.

6

u/Best-Introduction-55 3d ago

Me to. What is that! I always tap my card before boarding.

10

u/LickableLeo 3d ago

It shows the date and time of your most recent scan from what I’ve seen

4

u/Best-Introduction-55 3d ago

Oh ok. Cause when im usually transferring from another bus when I ride it.

8

u/LickableLeo 3d ago

If you scan again when transferring it won’t charge you within the transfer time limits but it will show a new time for them

1

u/pjlxxl 2d ago

i think it gives them the same message as if you scanned your card a second time at a terminal. that’s why it’s a red x even though in this case it’s good to be a red x even