Thousands of OC Transpo scofflaws have been trying to skirt payments, only to pay about 40 times more for a trip when the "fare police" track them down.

From the beginning of 2014 to the end of October, transit enforcement authorities issued 3,208 tickets to passengers who didn't bother to pay a fare or tap a Presto card after walking through the door of a bus or O-Train, according to the department's most recent tally of infractions.

The transit bylaw calls for a $125 fine for anyone who gets on a Transpo vehicle without paying the fare, showing a transfer or coughing up a proof of payment.

A regular adult cash fare is $3.45, or $2.77 with a Presto card.

The enforcement team, however, has been more inclined to give offenders a slap on the wrist than the $125 ticket.

During the same 10-month period, Transpo staff issued 5,281 warnings to passengers in fare payment disputes.

The offender rate is still low, considering Transpo checked 203,111 people on articulated buses, double deckers and the O-Train between January and October. Only 1-2% were actually ticketed.

Articulated buses and the O-Train can be particularly enticing for fare dodgers looking for a free ride. Transpo's rule: Only pass and Presto holders can board at the back doors, where Presto readers have also been installed. O-Train stations have Presto readers and ticket vending machines.

The Confederation Line LRT in 2018 will conceivably cut down on the number of payment infractions on buses since passengers will be required to pass through some sort of fare gate at the stations. More than 2,000 buses will be taken off downtown streets each day when LRT opens.

Of course, the nickname "fare police" doesn't actually reflect the makeup of the entire Transpo enforcement team.

Transpo employs a dozen fare inspectors who are civilians. They are unarmed and they don't carry handcuffs. They are separate from the special constables who are sworn officers.

In 2013 Transpo asked the American Public Transportation Association to review the city's safety programs for transit. One of the recommendations in APTA's report, which was released earlier this year, was to give all fare inspection work to Transpo special constables, plus increase the complement of uniformed officers.

"OC Transpo takes the APTA report very seriously and is reviewing its recommendations," assistant GM Troy Charter said in an e-mail to the Sun.

Twitter: @JonathanWilling