You don't need to show the receipt to anyone. Unless of course, the transit police happen to enter your bus and ask for one. If you can't produce a paper receipt, you will be fined $100. But that never happens.
I never ever cheat. I always buy a ticket. And, I have never seen a transit police person on a bus doing a random check.
I'm seeing a one-woman play called Forever. The reviews are great. "A study in family pathology." "A raw and haunting work." "Remarkable artistry." "Rich imagery." I go, and am completely bored through most of it.
It's a hot, muggy afternoon. Mid 80's. Too uncomfortable to walk home. I go the Select Bus kiosk. I put my Metrocard in, and the kiosk tells me my card "is invalid." I try another kiosk and get the same unfriendly message. I just used this card two hours ago and it worked fine then.
I board the bus and tell the bus driver. He suggests I try the kiosk at the next stop. I do, and get the same read out, "Invalid." I decide to take my chances.
At the 59th Street and First Avenue stop I see them. A sea of transit police. They position themselves in pairs, at each of the three doors. I have no confidence that my reasonable explanation will be accepted.So I try something else.
I casually walk off the bus, even though this isn't my stop; I'm hoping the police will only check people still on the bus. But I'm wrong. I am already past the two officers. They are busy checking others who are leaving the bus. Then I hear one of them calling out. "Excuse me, ma'am, may I see your bus receipt?" I turn and say, "Oh, I'm sorry, are you talking to me?" The officer responds, "I was. Did you already show the other officer your receipt?" Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you for such a nice out. "Yes," I quickly respond, and keep walking.
Tomorrow I'll have to deal with why my Metrocard suddenly stopped working, but for now, I'm happy my ride home didn't cost $100.
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