NYC Fare Evasion Fine: What Happens If You Get a Subway Ticket (2026)

Two Very Different Tracks: Civil Ticket vs. Criminal Charge

A person stopped for jumping a turnstile, walking through an emergency gate, or riding a bus without paying in New York City can end up on one of two tracks. The officer's choice of paperwork matters more than anything else that happens on the platform.

• Civil track: a Notice of Violation (NOV) returnable to the Transit Adjudication Bureau. TAB is the administrative tribunal that processes summonses under the NYC Transit and MTA Bus Rules of Conduct. NOVs can be issued by the NYPD, the MTA Police Department, or the NYC Transit Eagle Team, according to the MTA's own reports to its board.
• Criminal track: a desk appearance ticket, criminal summons, or arrest for theft of services. That case goes to criminal court and can produce a criminal record.

Current NYC Fare Evasion Fines (2025 Schedule)

Before 2025, the fine for every fare evasion violation on subways and buses was $100. The MTA reports that the New York Public Authorities Law was amended so that, effective January 1, 2025, penalties depend on how many violations a person has in a four-year period:

The MTA also states that a person who was not enrolled in Fair Fares NYC when cited has one opportunity to get the fine waived by enrolling before the hearing date, with proof of enrollment. Fines on NOVs issued before January 1, 2025 are whatever is printed on the notice and are not reduced by Fair Fares enrollment. The OMNY credit must be picked up at the TAB office within 60 days of payment.

The new structure changed outcomes sharply: the MTA's July 2025 TAB report to the Finance Committee states that in the first half of 2025, approximately 85% of fare evasion offenses resulted in warnings.

What Happens After You Get a TAB Ticket

1. Watch the mail. TAB says you should receive a Notice of Warning or Notice of Fine within 15 days of the NOV. If you do not, contact TAB at (347) 643-5805, and do not pay without first confirming the fine amount.
2. Check the match. If a Notice of Fine says prior violations in the past four years have been linked to you, you have the right to dispute that match and to request information on the linked NOVs.
3. Pay or contest. TAB accepts payment online, by phone, by MoneyGram (code 12728), in person, or by mail to "Transit Adjudication Bureau" with the NOV number. Alternatively, appear for the hearing date on the notice to contest it before a hearing officer.
4. Keep your address current. Missed notices are a common reason people miss hearings. TAB asks respondents to update their mailing address if it differs from the NOV.

Unpaid TAB penalties do not simply disappear. The MTA's board reporting describes collections that include garnishment of New York State tax refunds under a state program.

When Fare Evasion Becomes a Crime: Penal Law 165.15(3)

New York Penal Law section 165.15(3) makes it theft of services to obtain or attempt to obtain the use of a railroad, subway, bus, or similar transit service without paying the lawful charge, by force, intimidation, stealth, deception, or mechanical tampering, or by unjustifiable failure or refusal to pay. Theft of services is a class A misdemeanor. Under Penal Law 70.15 the maximum jail sentence for a class A misdemeanor is 364 days, and under Penal Law 80.05 the maximum fine is $1,000.

The criminal route is more likely when there is a history of prior violations, an open warrant, or other conduct during the stop. Under the 2025 schedule, a third civil violation within four years can itself be handled by criminal summons.

Your Rights During a Fare Evasion Stop

• Identification: an officer issuing a civil NOV needs your name and address to complete it. Giving false information can create separate criminal exposure.
• Searches: a civil summons alone does not authorize a full search; an arrest does. See our analysis of Fourth Amendment searches in transit and stationhouse strip-search limits.
• Questioning: if you are taken into custody, Miranda rules apply to interrogation. Read your right to a lawyer at the stationhouse and what happens at booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fine for fare evasion in NYC?

For violations on or after January 1, 2025: a warning for the first offense in four years, $100 for the second (with a $50 OMNY credit if paid on time in full), and $150 or a criminal summons for the third and later offenses.

Is jumping the turnstile in NYC a misdemeanor?

It can be. Most cases are civil TAB violations, but police may charge theft of services under Penal Law 165.15(3), a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Does a TAB fare evasion ticket give me a criminal record?

A civil Notice of Violation is handled by the Transit Adjudication Bureau, an administrative tribunal, not criminal court. A criminal summons or arrest for theft of services is a criminal matter.

Can I get my NYC fare evasion fine waived?

If you were not enrolled in Fair Fares NYC when cited, the MTA says you have one opportunity to have the fine waived by enrolling before your hearing date and providing proof. Enrolled participants receive a 50% reduction.

How do I check or pay a TAB ticket?

Wait for the Notice of Warning or Notice of Fine (within 15 days), then pay online, by phone, MoneyGram, in person, or by mail, or contest it at the hearing. Call TAB at (347) 643-5805 if no notice arrives.

Sources

• MTA: Pay a TAB fine (fine amounts effective January 1, 2025)
• MTA: Transit Adjudication Bureau FAQ
• MTA Finance Committee: TAB Report, January 2023 to June 2025
• New York Penal Law sections 165.15, 70.15 and 80.05

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Penalties and enforcement policies change; confirm the amount on your notice with TAB and consult a licensed New York attorney about any criminal charge.